Ricky (Rick) Michael Griffin

Ricky Michael (Rick) Griffin, 69, passed from this life and into the loving arms of Jesus on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at North Mississippi Medical Center Inpatient Hospice where he received the most compassionate care after suffering a series of strokes.

In honor of his life, his family will receive visitors at Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce, MS, on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Brother Drew Richardson will officiate the funeral service on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. He will be laid to rest in Montevista Cemetery in Webster County, MS. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Randy Griffin, Cecil Starks, Danny Harrelson, Buddy Cooper, and Michael Laughlin will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Rick was born to Joseph Winfred Griffin and Janet Ruth Peden Griffin on October 13, 1954, in Lepanto, AR, and moved to Calhoun County shortly thereafter. After graduating from Bruce High School in 1973, he attended Northwest Community College and Mississippi State University to become a history teacher.  He then decided he could not speak in front of people, but God had a plan! He surrendered to the ministry in 1996 and received a diploma in Pastoral Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Before his retirement in 2022, he pastored many churches from the Delta to the Hills, loving and leading others to Christ. After which, he spent another couple of years as a supply preacher.

Rick also spent 35 years in the grocery business including many years at Weeks' Big Star in Bruce, MS, where he (with a painted on clown face) met the love of his life on December 3, 1972, with a baby (her nephew) on her hip. They married on February 12, 1975, and  spent the rest of their lives together raising children and having fun.

He had the most fun building a life with his beloved wife, sharing the Word of God with everyone he met, making new friends everywhere he went, and giving selflessly to those around him. In the last 6 years, he enjoyed being the "Lawn Ranger" of his 2 acre yard.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, sister Dorothy Griffin, brothers Bobby Joe Griffin, Raymond Griffin, Russell Griffin, and Jimmy Ray Griffin.

He is survived by his wife Mary Cathrine Cooper Griffin, one son Richard Alton Griffin, two daughters, Charlotte (Matthew) Pharis, Elizabeth (Eric) Autry, five grandsons, John, Micah, and Titus Pharis, Griffin and Grey Autry, three granddaughters Aubree and Chloe Griffin, and Sarah Erwin, plus his bonus daughter and grandson Shilah Michelle and Matthew Budgett, and bonus great granddaughter Kennedy Budgett, ten foster children, two sisters, Bessie (Cecil) Stark, Debbi (Danny) Harrelson, one brother, Randy (Brenda) Griffin, one sister in law, Ann Griffin, and a whole host of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the R.J. Wilemon Ministerial Assistance Fund. Please visit:  createfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate and search for R.J. Wilemon. (This fund supports retired pastors and their wives.)You may also choose to donate to the Gideons by visiting gideons.org/donate as Bro. Rick believed that sharing the Good News of Jesus and the Word of God was the best way to show love to one another.

Parker Memorial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Griffin family during this season of life.