Elaine Griffie

Elaine Florence Griffie was born on September 20, 1923, in Westfield, New Jersey. She was raised by her grandmother Lucy Ellen Lee. She moved to Pittsburgh in 1948 to be close to her father, Thomas H. and mother Helen Lee. She met Jess Griffie they married on April 2, 1950, at Bethany Baptist Church, and were blessed with five children.

Elaine allowed the Lord to work through her to reach others by serving in many leadership positions. Below is a listing of the ministries in which she directed and/or served during her lifetime:

Chairperson of the Deaconess Board, Director of Christian Education, Taught Vacation Bible School, New Members Class, Kids Under Construction (KUC), Superintendent of Sunday School, Camp Fire Girls, Youth for Christ, Nursery, Families and Youth 2000, Evangelism Team, Prayer Ministry, Director of the Kitchen Ministry, Master’s Kitchen, Growth Groups, Biblical Counseling, Chairperson of the Mission Board, Women’s Fellowship, Donna Covington Support Group, Altar Counselor and Counselor for The Billy Graham Crusade.

One of her passions was preparing meals for family, friends, church funerals, weddings and special occasions. Elaine loved serving and hosting missionaries in her home at the yearly mission conferences. Another one of her loves was studying the Bible. As a result, she attended and graduated from Harty Bible School, took classes at the Pittsburgh Laymen’s Bible Institute, and received a certificate in Biblical Counseling.

While caring for her family Elaine also provided child care in her home where she invested in the lives of many children, teaching them Christian principles and when necessary she used “Do-Right”. Her main focus was serving Christ and she did everything she could to enhance the Kingdom of God. Ma Griffie will always be remembered for ‘Do-Right”, pointing her finger and cooking many delicious foods including pies, cakes, rolls, greens, etc.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jess Griffie and daughter Donna Elaine Covington. Elaine leaves to cherish her memory her brother Harold (Bernice) Lee of Alexandria, VA; cousin Janet Lee, Apollo, PA; three sons, Edward (Stacy) Griffie, Kingman, AZ, James (Ute) Griffie, Pittsburgh, PA, Jess L. Griffie, Seattle WA, daughter Mary (Karl) Kilcrease, Pittsburgh, PA; 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and host of other family, church family and friends.

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