Opal Brown Griggs was born March 19, 1937 in Hardin County, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Roscoe David and Victoria Ayers Brown. She grew up in the Lutts, Martin Mills, Houston and Rayburn Creek areas of Wayne County, TN. She gained her angel wings December 14, 2020 after a brief illness with Covid at Wayne Medical Center, Waynesboro, TN. She married Ralph Franklin Griggs, Sr., May 23, 1969. He preceded her in death, October 28, 1999. She was also preceded in death by sister, Helen Brown and great-grandson, Brayden Xavier Burns.
Survivors, son, Ralph Franklin Griggs, Jr., Waynesboro; daughters, Opal Ruth Mashburn (Kalen), Loretto, TN, Betty Peacock (Jerry), Waynesboro, TN; grandchildren, Jacob Quent Peacock, Waynesboro, Amanda Jefferies, Leoma, Kacinda Leigh Burns (Dustin Phillips), Savannah, TN; great-grandchildren, James Haden Ramsey, Columbia, Damian McKenzie, Abilene, TX, Kitana Jade Cox, Leoma, Benjamin Isaiah Burns, Trevan Dewayne Burns and Brynleigh Elizabeth Burns, all of Waynesboro; Sophia and Elleri Reign Phillips, Savannah; sister-in-law, Virginia Cooper Griggs, Collinwood; nephews, James Griggs (Angie) and Steve Griggs (Connie) all of Waynesboro; niece, April Thompson (Kenneth), Collinwood; two great-nephews, two great-nieces and two great-great-nephews and a host of cousins and friends.
Opal, a business woman in Waynesboro, owned and operated Griggs Service Station for many years. Many would say she could fix a tire quicker and better than any man. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Red Hat Society, Wayne County Quilting Club, Houston FCE and Wayne County Historical Society. She loved eating at West End Cafe and considered Jonell, John, Carla and Kay, family. She, an avid gardener with a green thumb, loved tending to her cattle on her farm and visiting with the neighbors around the farm.
Services will be Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 1:00 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors Chapel, Waynesboro, Tennessee, with Keith Cagle officiating, burial in Highland Methodist Church Cemetery, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Shackelford Funeral Directors directing. Visitation will be two hours before the service.
