Lara Elizabeth Griffin, 30, of Tampa, Fla., passed unexpectedly into eternal love of God the Father Thursday evening, January 20. Loved deeply by her family, fiancé, and friends, Lara was predeceased by her maternal grandparents Paul and Eleanor Miller of Charlotte, NC and her uncle Paul Miller of Raleigh, NC, whom she dearly loved. She is survived by her loving family Anne Miller, Bill Griffin (Donna), brother John Griffin; step-siblings David and Jennifer Johnson; paternal grandparents Lu and John Griffin of Wilmington, NC; fiancé Joseph Sherman , fiance’ parents Neil and Beverly Sherman, and sister Francine Sherman; and a wonderful, loving extended family: Aunt Jane Miller of Winter Park, Fl; Aunt Nancy and Uncle Eric Kilby of Arlington Heights, IL; Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve Irvin of Kinston, NC; and numerous and close friends.
Lara graduated with honors from Gaither High School in 1998 and was President of the Fellowship of Christian Students; attended Stetson University where she was a leader in Pi Beta Phi sorority; graduated from USF in 2002 with a BA degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences; and received her MBA from Miami University in 2008. She was employed with T. Rowe Price till 2010 most recently, Lara was employed by Ameriprise.
Lara recently became a member of Con Schaarai Zedek Jewish Synagogue, and was formerly a member of Van Dyke Methodist Church, Tampa and Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa where she was active in children’s worship as a teacher, choir, worship and praise team, and youth group. She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She loved animals, especially her cat Emmy. And most of all she loved God, her fiancé, family, and friends. Lara will be greatly missed, and remembered as a gentle, sweet, loving Spirit, who graced our lives, even in the midst of troubled times, and as God’s cherished gift to us all.
There will be a visitation at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 followed by a Christian service at 2:00 pm at Stowers Funeral Home in Brandon. A memorial service will take place at 7 pm on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Con Schaarai Zedek in Tampa.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to AMIKids, Inc, (www.amikids.org) or the Crisis Center, Tampa (www.crisiscenter.com/Contribute). Arrangements under the direction of Stowers Funeral Home, Brandon, FL.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18