Maj Gen (Ret) Joseph Wesley Griffin, Jr.

Maj Gen (Ret) Joseph Wesley Griffin, Jr., 74, of Thomasville, died on Friday, July 1, 2005 at Hospitality Care Center of Thomas County. Born in Valdosta on August 24, 1930, he was the son of the late Joseph Wesley, Sr. and Leila Thelma Spivey Griffin. He played football with the Valdosta Wildcats under Coach Wright Bazemore. He graduated from high school in 1947 and attended Emory Junior College in Valdosta. In 1952, he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia. He lived in Atlanta and served as The Adjutant General during the governorship of George Busbee.

General Griffin began his military career on July 8, 1952, by enlisting in the U. S. Army. Upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School on August 4, 1953, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, Infantry. He was reassigned to the U. S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) in early 1955.

In May 1955, he was appointed a first lieutenant in the Georgia Army National Guard. In December 1973, he assumed command of 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, where he remained until his reassignment in October 1976 to Executive Officer of the 48th Infantry Brigade. In February 1977, he transferred to the state Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment as Chief of The Security, Plans, Operations, and Military Support Branch. Eight months later he was named Commander of the 118th Field Artillery Group. In November 1978, he returned to the 48th Infantry Brigade, where he became Deputy Commander, then Commander. On February 4, 1980, he received Federal recognition as a Brigadier General of the line.

He was appointed The Adjutant General, Georgia, and promoted to Major General in the State on November 1, 1983. He received Federal recognition as a Major General, Adjutant General’s Corps, on February 29, 1984.

Awards and decorations which he received include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and Georgia Service Medal. He was a member of the Adjutants General Association, National Guard Association of the United States, and National Guard Association of Georgia. He retired in January 1991 from the United States Army as Major General.

Other memberships include First Baptist Church of Thomasville, the Thomasville Rotary Club, the Historical Society, the Salvation Army Board and was a founder of the Sports Hall of Fame in Thomasville.

Preceded in death by his wife, Sallie Virginia (Ginger) House Griffin, Mr. Griffin is survived by his daughters and sons in law, Sallie Virginia and Bobby Mann of Fitzgerald, Anne Ernestine “Erni” and Alan Tucker of Thomasville; a son and daughter in law, Reverend Joseph Wesley (Jody) and Sheila Griffin of Kings Mountain, North Carolina; grandchildren, Beth and Michael Mann, Sara, Seth and Trent Tucker, Wesley, Martha and Anna Griffin; sister and brother in law, Sister and Everett Force of Valdosta and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Caroline and Tommy Morgan of Conyers.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 3, 2005, at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Mr. Garland Basford and Reverend Keith Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery with full military rites at the graveside. The family will receive friends on Saturday evening at the funeral home from 6 – 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2790, Thomasville, GA 31799, Archbold Hospital Foundation, 910 S. Broad St., Thomasville, GA 31792 or the National Down Syndrome Society, 666 Broadway, New York NY 10012 Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the Obituary page at mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602