James Thomas Griffin

James Thomas (Tommy) left for his heavenly home on July 11, 2025. He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on April 13, 1948. He was predeceased by his parents James Allen Griffin and Minnie Neal Strickland Griffin. Tommy lived in Whitakers, North Carolina until he left to further his education.

Tommy graduated from Red Oak High School in 1966. He then attended the North Carolina School of Automation in Greensboro, North Carolina where he learned computer programming and met Barbra May, the love of his life. They were married in November 25, 1967. He served in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1972, where he got to use his programming skills on the ship. When he returned to North Carolina, he was unable to find a job in programming. He took a job in maintenance, and that was his calling until he retired in 2015 from Perdue Industries Feed Mill in Nashville, North Carolina as a Maintenance Supervisor.

Everything that Tommy did, he did with gusto. In 1979 they moved to Golfers Lane at Birchwood Country Club in Nashville, North Carolina where he was an avid golfer for 21 years. When he moved to Gaston Lake in 2000, golfing took a back seat to boating. They lived at the Lake for 15 years before moving to Florida to enjoy his retirement. Barbara hung on and adapted to whatever he wanted to do and wherever he wanted to live. Moving to the Tanglewood Community in Sebring, Florida in 2015 set the pace for the next 10 years of his life. Tanglewood welcomed them with open arms and before long friends became family.

Tommy is survived by his wife Barbara, his sister Myrtle Davenport (Greenville, North Carolina), a half sister Judy Best (Chesapeake, Virginia), and a brother-in-law James Linwood May (Nashville, North Carolina). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life for Tommy will be held at Momeyer Ruritan Club (4812 Momeyer Way) in Momeyer, NC on September 14, 2025 from 2pm-4pm. Another celebration of life will be held here locally at the Tanglewood Community Center (1600 Tanglewood Circle) in Sebring, FL on November 8, 2025 from 2pm-4pm. BYOB!