A Special Cousin
daughter of Odie L Ellerbee & Lottie Lane Cherry
wife of Dudley Welch Griffith
mother of Cherie & Leslie D
sister to Geraldine Hardin
A 'Special Thanks' to Richard Smelser for transferring Geneva`s site to me.
Obituary
Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith, 86, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at her home in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Griffith was born in Orange, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas. She lived in the Oak Grove community in Cameron Parish for nearly 50 years. In 2003, she moved to a Baton Rouge retirement village to be near her daughter. Mrs. Griffith worked for the ASCS Office in Cameron and later as a secretary for the Cameron Parish District Attorney's Office, retiring in 1996. She was very involved in numerous organizations in Cameron Parish. In 1955, she was one of the co-founders of the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival and was the festival's publicity chairman for more than 45 years. Mrs. Griffith was a member of the Home Demonstration Club's Parish Council, helped organize the first Cameron Parish Junior Livestock Show in 1956, and served as a 4-H leader for 15 years. She was a charter member of Richard Bros. American Legion Post Auxiliary, was a member of the Cameron Parish Bi-Centennial Commission and formerly served as secretary of the Cameron Parish Recreation District 4. Mrs. Griffith helped organize the Cameron Parish Historical Society, helping preserve the parish history by writing for publication many articles on the parish, and served as an adviser to the Cameron Parish School Board to compile a written history of Cameron Parish. She served on the Cameron Parish Civil Defense organization staff from its beginning in 1957, was a charter member of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, helped organize the Cameron Parish Cowbelles, the women's auxiliary of the Cattlemen's Association, and helped organize the Cameron Parish Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for which she served as publicity chairman for many years. In 1990, she was named the Cameron Parish Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Griffith was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Thelma Hackett 225 and the Oak Grove First Baptist Church. In 1956, shortly after the founding of the Cameron Pilot, Mrs. Griffith wrote a weekly column of Oak Grove news and, after Hurricane Audrey in 1957, her "Lagniappe with the Refugees" column resulted in her being named the Louisiana Country Correspondent of the Year in 1958 by the Louisiana Press Association. For the next 45 years, she served as the unofficial "News Bureau" for Cameron Parish as a reporter and photojournalist for the Cameron Pilot and Lake Charles American Press. She also authored a weekly column in "Lagniappe" in the Lake Charles American Press. Over the years, Mrs. Griffith won numerous awards in newspaper competitions sponsored by the Louisiana Press Association, Louisiana Press Women, and National Federation of Press Women. The Louisiana Press Women Association awarded her its 1992 Communication of Achievement Award. She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Giblin and husband Pat, of Baton Rouge; son, Leslie D. Griffith and wife Peggy, of Oak Grove; two grandchildren, Jared Griffith and Janay Giblin Matt; step-grandchildren, Kerry Davis and husband Nathan, and Kelly Kilgore and husband Brad; great-granddaughter, McCall Matt; great-stepgrandchildren Sloan Davis and Madelyn Kilgore; and sister, Geraldine Hardin. She was preceded in death her husband, D.W. Griffith; and grandson, James P. "Jay" Giblin II. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Johnson Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Wallace Primeaux will officiate. Burial in the Rutherford Cemetery in the Oak Grove community. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jared Griffith, Ricky Griffith, Yancy Welch, J.T. Primeaux, Skeeter Lee Jr. and Jamey Townsend. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Sylvia Wilson and Mary Augustus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mrs. Griffith's name may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or Alzheimer's Services, 3772 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
daughter of Odie L Ellerbee & Lottie Lane Cherry
wife of Dudley Welch Griffith
mother of Cherie & Leslie D
sister to Geraldine Hardin
A 'Special Thanks' to Richard Smelser for transferring Geneva`s site to me.
Obituary
Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith, 86, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at her home in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Griffith was born in Orange, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas. She lived in the Oak Grove community in Cameron Parish for nearly 50 years. In 2003, she moved to a Baton Rouge retirement village to be near her daughter. Mrs. Griffith worked for the ASCS Office in Cameron and later as a secretary for the Cameron Parish District Attorney's Office, retiring in 1996. She was very involved in numerous organizations in Cameron Parish. In 1955, she was one of the co-founders of the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival and was the festival's publicity chairman for more than 45 years. Mrs. Griffith was a member of the Home Demonstration Club's Parish Council, helped organize the first Cameron Parish Junior Livestock Show in 1956, and served as a 4-H leader for 15 years. She was a charter member of Richard Bros. American Legion Post Auxiliary, was a member of the Cameron Parish Bi-Centennial Commission and formerly served as secretary of the Cameron Parish Recreation District 4. Mrs. Griffith helped organize the Cameron Parish Historical Society, helping preserve the parish history by writing for publication many articles on the parish, and served as an adviser to the Cameron Parish School Board to compile a written history of Cameron Parish. She served on the Cameron Parish Civil Defense organization staff from its beginning in 1957, was a charter member of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, helped organize the Cameron Parish Cowbelles, the women's auxiliary of the Cattlemen's Association, and helped organize the Cameron Parish Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for which she served as publicity chairman for many years. In 1990, she was named the Cameron Parish Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Griffith was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Thelma Hackett 225 and the Oak Grove First Baptist Church. In 1956, shortly after the founding of the Cameron Pilot, Mrs. Griffith wrote a weekly column of Oak Grove news and, after Hurricane Audrey in 1957, her "Lagniappe with the Refugees" column resulted in her being named the Louisiana Country Correspondent of the Year in 1958 by the Louisiana Press Association. For the next 45 years, she served as the unofficial "News Bureau" for Cameron Parish as a reporter and photojournalist for the Cameron Pilot and Lake Charles American Press. She also authored a weekly column in "Lagniappe" in the Lake Charles American Press. Over the years, Mrs. Griffith won numerous awards in newspaper competitions sponsored by the Louisiana Press Association, Louisiana Press Women, and National Federation of Press Women. The Louisiana Press Women Association awarded her its 1992 Communication of Achievement Award. She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Giblin and husband Pat, of Baton Rouge; son, Leslie D. Griffith and wife Peggy, of Oak Grove; two grandchildren, Jared Griffith and Janay Giblin Matt; step-grandchildren, Kerry Davis and husband Nathan, and Kelly Kilgore and husband Brad; great-granddaughter, McCall Matt; great-stepgrandchildren Sloan Davis and Madelyn Kilgore; and sister, Geraldine Hardin. She was preceded in death her husband, D.W. Griffith; and grandson, James P. "Jay" Giblin II. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Johnson Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Wallace Primeaux will officiate. Burial in the Rutherford Cemetery in the Oak Grove community. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jared Griffith, Ricky Griffith, Yancy Welch, J.T. Primeaux, Skeeter Lee Jr. and Jamey Townsend. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Sylvia Wilson and Mary Augustus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mrs. Griffith's name may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or Alzheimer's Services, 3772 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
A Special Cousin
daughter of Odie L Ellerbee & Lottie Lane Cherry
wife of Dudley Welch Griffith
mother of Cherie & Leslie D
sister to Geraldine Hardin
A 'Special Thanks' to Richard Smelser for transferring Geneva`s site to me.
Obituary
Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith, 86, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at her home in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Griffith was born in Orange, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas. She lived in the Oak Grove community in Cameron Parish for nearly 50 years. In 2003, she moved to a Baton Rouge retirement village to be near her daughter. Mrs. Griffith worked for the ASCS Office in Cameron and later as a secretary for the Cameron Parish District Attorney's Office, retiring in 1996. She was very involved in numerous organizations in Cameron Parish. In 1955, she was one of the co-founders of the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival and was the festival's publicity chairman for more than 45 years. Mrs. Griffith was a member of the Home Demonstration Club's Parish Council, helped organize the first Cameron Parish Junior Livestock Show in 1956, and served as a 4-H leader for 15 years. She was a charter member of Richard Bros. American Legion Post Auxiliary, was a member of the Cameron Parish Bi-Centennial Commission and formerly served as secretary of the Cameron Parish Recreation District 4. Mrs. Griffith helped organize the Cameron Parish Historical Society, helping preserve the parish history by writing for publication many articles on the parish, and served as an adviser to the Cameron Parish School Board to compile a written history of Cameron Parish. She served on the Cameron Parish Civil Defense organization staff from its beginning in 1957, was a charter member of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, helped organize the Cameron Parish Cowbelles, the women's auxiliary of the Cattlemen's Association, and helped organize the Cameron Parish Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for which she served as publicity chairman for many years. In 1990, she was named the Cameron Parish Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Griffith was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Thelma Hackett 225 and the Oak Grove First Baptist Church. In 1956, shortly after the founding of the Cameron Pilot, Mrs. Griffith wrote a weekly column of Oak Grove news and, after Hurricane Audrey in 1957, her "Lagniappe with the Refugees" column resulted in her being named the Louisiana Country Correspondent of the Year in 1958 by the Louisiana Press Association. For the next 45 years, she served as the unofficial "News Bureau" for Cameron Parish as a reporter and photojournalist for the Cameron Pilot and Lake Charles American Press. She also authored a weekly column in "Lagniappe" in the Lake Charles American Press. Over the years, Mrs. Griffith won numerous awards in newspaper competitions sponsored by the Louisiana Press Association, Louisiana Press Women, and National Federation of Press Women. The Louisiana Press Women Association awarded her its 1992 Communication of Achievement Award. She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Giblin and husband Pat, of Baton Rouge; son, Leslie D. Griffith and wife Peggy, of Oak Grove; two grandchildren, Jared Griffith and Janay Giblin Matt; step-grandchildren, Kerry Davis and husband Nathan, and Kelly Kilgore and husband Brad; great-granddaughter, McCall Matt; great-stepgrandchildren Sloan Davis and Madelyn Kilgore; and sister, Geraldine Hardin. She was preceded in death her husband, D.W. Griffith; and grandson, James P. "Jay" Giblin II. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Johnson Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Wallace Primeaux will officiate. Burial in the Rutherford Cemetery in the Oak Grove community. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jared Griffith, Ricky Griffith, Yancy Welch, J.T. Primeaux, Skeeter Lee Jr. and Jamey Townsend. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Sylvia Wilson and Mary Augustus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mrs. Griffith's name may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or Alzheimer's Services, 3772 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
daughter of Odie L Ellerbee & Lottie Lane Cherry
wife of Dudley Welch Griffith
mother of Cherie & Leslie D
sister to Geraldine Hardin
A 'Special Thanks' to Richard Smelser for transferring Geneva`s site to me.
Obituary
Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith Geneva Cherry Ellerbee Griffith, 86, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, at her home in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Griffith was born in Orange, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas. She lived in the Oak Grove community in Cameron Parish for nearly 50 years. In 2003, she moved to a Baton Rouge retirement village to be near her daughter. Mrs. Griffith worked for the ASCS Office in Cameron and later as a secretary for the Cameron Parish District Attorney's Office, retiring in 1996. She was very involved in numerous organizations in Cameron Parish. In 1955, she was one of the co-founders of the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival and was the festival's publicity chairman for more than 45 years. Mrs. Griffith was a member of the Home Demonstration Club's Parish Council, helped organize the first Cameron Parish Junior Livestock Show in 1956, and served as a 4-H leader for 15 years. She was a charter member of Richard Bros. American Legion Post Auxiliary, was a member of the Cameron Parish Bi-Centennial Commission and formerly served as secretary of the Cameron Parish Recreation District 4. Mrs. Griffith helped organize the Cameron Parish Historical Society, helping preserve the parish history by writing for publication many articles on the parish, and served as an adviser to the Cameron Parish School Board to compile a written history of Cameron Parish. She served on the Cameron Parish Civil Defense organization staff from its beginning in 1957, was a charter member of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, helped organize the Cameron Parish Cowbelles, the women's auxiliary of the Cattlemen's Association, and helped organize the Cameron Parish Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for which she served as publicity chairman for many years. In 1990, she was named the Cameron Parish Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Griffith was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Thelma Hackett 225 and the Oak Grove First Baptist Church. In 1956, shortly after the founding of the Cameron Pilot, Mrs. Griffith wrote a weekly column of Oak Grove news and, after Hurricane Audrey in 1957, her "Lagniappe with the Refugees" column resulted in her being named the Louisiana Country Correspondent of the Year in 1958 by the Louisiana Press Association. For the next 45 years, she served as the unofficial "News Bureau" for Cameron Parish as a reporter and photojournalist for the Cameron Pilot and Lake Charles American Press. She also authored a weekly column in "Lagniappe" in the Lake Charles American Press. Over the years, Mrs. Griffith won numerous awards in newspaper competitions sponsored by the Louisiana Press Association, Louisiana Press Women, and National Federation of Press Women. The Louisiana Press Women Association awarded her its 1992 Communication of Achievement Award. She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Giblin and husband Pat, of Baton Rouge; son, Leslie D. Griffith and wife Peggy, of Oak Grove; two grandchildren, Jared Griffith and Janay Giblin Matt; step-grandchildren, Kerry Davis and husband Nathan, and Kelly Kilgore and husband Brad; great-granddaughter, McCall Matt; great-stepgrandchildren Sloan Davis and Madelyn Kilgore; and sister, Geraldine Hardin. She was preceded in death her husband, D.W. Griffith; and grandson, James P. "Jay" Giblin II. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Johnson Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Wallace Primeaux will officiate. Burial in the Rutherford Cemetery in the Oak Grove community. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jared Griffith, Ricky Griffith, Yancy Welch, J.T. Primeaux, Skeeter Lee Jr. and Jamey Townsend. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Sylvia Wilson and Mary Augustus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mrs. Griffith's name may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or Alzheimer's Services, 3772 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
