John R. Griffin

He was a graduate of Arlington High School and married Sara Emanuel on November 7, 1942. John studied at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Atlanta. John served our country in the US Army during WWII in Japan. John and Sara moved to Chattanooga in 1955 with his job at the former Interstate Life Insurance Company and later retired as executive vice president of Gulf Life Insurance Company of Jacksonville, FL. They joined Brainerd Baptist Church in 1955 where he served as an ordained deacon, as well as a leader and teacher in the Sunday school ministry. John was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Sara Emanuel and Dr. Carmen Allison Smith; and four sisters.

Left to cherish his memory are three daughters and their husbands, Cheryle and Joe Miller of Chattanooga, TN, Angela and Morris Bryan of Greer, SC, and Melanie and Scott Gentry of Franklin, TN; six grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and step-daughter, Donna and David Harmon and their son and granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Rowland officiating. Burial will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of The Lantern at Morning Pointe in Chattanooga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hearth Hospice of Chattanooga or Brainerd Baptist Church Benevolence Fund or Harvest Offering.

Please visit www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com to share condolences with the family.

Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home – East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd., East Ridge, TN 37412.