Virginia Hamilton Griffin passed away on January 14, 2012 at the age of 90.
Known to her friends as Toni, Virginia Griffin was born to William Ray Griffin and Edith Hamilton Lutz Griffin on November 27, 1921. An Asheville native, she graduated from Lee Edwards High School and Brenau College in Georgia. She devoted her early years to Girl Scouts as a Camp Director in Asheville, Lake Lure and Texarkana until 1960, receiving the highest honor an adult in Girl Scouting can achieve. She moved to Charlotte in the early 1960’s where she had a successful career as a financial advisor in mutual funds, ultimately relocating to Lake Norman following her retirement.
Throughout her life, Griffin was actively engaged as a leader in her community, her church and her profession. She was dynamic, self reliant and independent, yet rooted in tradition and grounded in family and community. A pioneer at the time as a woman in financial planning, she sold mutual funds and advanced to Division Director at Waddell & Reed in Charlotte. She served as President of Charlotte Business and Professional Women’s Club, was active in the Junior League and volunteered with the Charlotte Symphony. She was a founding cornerstone member of Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte, serving as Director of Christian Education, Women’s Circle Chair and Choir Director.
In the early seventies, Toni moved to Lake Norman where she pursued her passion for sailing full time. She quickly immersed herself in the community and became a vital member of the Salem United Methodist Church, where for years she sang in the Choir and taught the Joyful Christians Sunday School Class. An avid sailor, Toni was a member of the Lake Norman Yacht Club and eagerly welcomed family and friends to share in her enthusiasm for sailing, motor boating, waterskiing and swimming. An ever gracious hostess, Toni entertained regularly and her lakeside home became an idyllic retreat for warm gatherings characterized by spectacular sunrises, peppermint ice cream, rocking chairs on the deck, therapeutic hugs, and her spirited sense of fun.
Preceded in death by her two brothers, Toni would be the first to remind us that she is once again “the rose between two thorns.” She is survived by nieces and nephews William Ray Griffin III and wife Alice Griffin of Asheville, Karen G. Tinsley and husband Steve Tinsley of Charlotte, Suzanne G. Bowman of Charlotte; Joan A. Griffin of Rutherfordton; and Molly G. Bachmann and husband Peter Bachmann of La Canada, CA. Also surviving are numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews. Services are to be held on Saturday, January 21st at Salem United Methodist Church with Visitation at 10:00 am and the service at 11:00. Salem United Methodist Church is located at 378 North Pilot Knob Road, Denver, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Salem United Methodist Church.
Toni will be remembered by the many lives that she touched as a life force who filled every room she entered with her gracious spirit, clever humor and enthusiastic love of life. She was the family and community historian, chronicling the years through photographs, letters, scrapbooks and stories. Her greatest pride and reward came in sharing her knowledge and skills with people of all ages, living by the axiom that if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
