Mrs. Virginia Tays Griffin, 78, of McComb, passed away on May 22, 2023, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at First Baptist Church McComb from 9:00 AM until services at 11:00 AM.  Burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery.  Hartman Jones Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Griffin was born on June 24, 1944, in Booneville, MS to the late Herbert Eugene Tays and Meriam Fugitt Tays.

She was a graduate of the University of Mississippi and began a career in teaching after earning a Bachelor of Science in Education. She later earned her Master's degree in Deaf Education from the University of Kansas and began teaching at the Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson, MS.  Upon moving to McComb, she was active in the McComb Garden Club and achieved a Master Gardener designation through the State's Cooperative Extension program. She worked alongside her husband and children at family-owned Thrift Home Care. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of McComb, and began the church's ministry for deaf and hard of hearing members. Over the years, she interpreted services, taught Sunday School, and provided sign language lessons. She had a servant's heart and always put others before herself. She embraced farm life with her family, laughing about sometimes receiving a new cow or bushhog as a birthday gift. She was a faithful and supportive wife, creative and fun-loving mother and aunt, and especially a much-loved Gran. She enjoyed spending time with her loved ones exploring museums, going to plays and musicals, traveling with friends and family, reading voraciously, and hosting her famous "Cousin Camps" for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Anne Tays Lindsey, brothers Bennie Eugene Tays, Marion Alexander Tays, and William Edward Tays, and nephew Sean Cox.

She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Ed Griffin; daughters Anna (Richie) Lister of Nashville, TN and Miriam (Will) Bond of Madison, MS, and son Minor (Courtney) Griffin of Summit, MS; sister Katherine (Tom) Greer of Cordova, TN; brother Herbert Eugene (Gene) Tays, Jr. of Booneville, MS; Taylor Stirling and family of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren Owen and Benjamin Lister, Tays and Caroline Griffin, and Leland, Norman, and Andrew Bond, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Taylor Stirling, Beau Holloway, Patrick Gibson, Richie Lister, Will Bond and Terry Stroud.

The family would like to thank Rose Gatlin, Mildred Morgan, Hortense Johnson, Gina Gill, Angie Greer, Connie Barnes, and the caregivers of Compassus Hospice for their care over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to French Camp Academy.