Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

November 24, 2023

CHARLOTTE – Johnny Lee Griffin, 79, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 24, 2023. His integrity, intelligence and steadfastness were an inspiration to his family and friends.

John was born September 15, 1944, to humble beginnings. The third child of Myrtle and Cecil Griffin in Kannapolis, NC, lifelong Cannon Mills workers, he admired and loved his parents deeply.  He often said they were the smartest and hardest working people he ever knew despite their little education.

John attended Winecoff School and was a member of Royal Oaks Baptist Church until he left Kannapolis to join the United States Air Force.  Recognizing his intelligence, The Air Force sent him to an intensive foreign language program at Indiana University before his deployment to Japan. There, he flew into Russian airspace to translate radio transmissions during the Cold War and early Vietnam era. Through his affinity for languages, John spoke Japanese, Russian, German and French.

After the Air Force, John worked his way through college to earn a degree in Math and Computer Science at UNC Charlotte while raising his first child, Jeff, born in 1968.  After which, he worked in computer programming until starting a software company in 1975.  John was a pioneer in the IT industry, recently featured in a cover story of Hospitality Magazine to honor his historic contribution to hotel reservation systems.

In 1976, John married his second wife, Christine Farnan Griffin and adopted her daughter, Anne. Together, they had one daughter, Christylee. They often described their family as having “his, hers and theirs.”

Despite his intelligence and worldliness, John was a country boy at heart.  Of all the places he lived, John was most happy at Lake Wylie.  When he wasn’t working hard on his software programs on giant computers in the basement, he enjoyed spending time outside.  Weather permitting, he water-skied everyday with the family and then ritualistically swam across the cove and back. He taught his children riflery, archery and fishing out at the lake.  When he and his family moved to the Carmel Park neighborhood, he “scandalized” the neighbors by walking their dog, shirtless and barefoot, just like any other respectable country boy.

John’s work allowed him to retire in his forties. He and his wife, Chris, spent their early retirement years traveling the world.  Between these trips, when they weren’t playing golf or bridge (John was a Bridge Life Master), hosting a book club, or entertaining friends, they spent time caring for grandchildren.

John’s IQ was genius-level, and he kept his brain sharp with daily crosswords, deep readings of national newspapers, and the highest difficulty Sudoku puzzles.  Everyone wanted him on their trivia team because he answered all the Jeopardy questions correctly.  

In time, he and Chris moved to The Kimberlee co-op in Myers Park, where he continued to swim in the pool during the season.  In late July of this year, he suffered a fall.  Numerous complications from a subdural hematoma landed him in Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster, where he died of pneumonia. 

John is survived by his wife of forty-seven years, Christine Farnan Griffin; his daughter, Anne Griffin Schmitt and her husband, Steve; his daughter, Christylee Griffin, and a son from his first marriage, Jeff Griffin and his wife, Mary Beth.  He was blessed with four grandchildren, Mason, Carter, Noel and Aubrey Jane.  Also surviving are his brother, James Griffin and his wife, Diane; sister, Nancy Clay and her husband, Dave; his brother-in-law, Jim Lafevers and his wife, Alice.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Kaye Griffin Lafevers, and brother, Lynn Griffin.

Memorials may be offered in memory of John to McDowell Nature Preserve at Lake Wylie through Partners for Parks, Inc., PO Box 32365, Charlotte, NC 28232 or partnersforparks.org.

A memorial service with family and friends will be held in warmer weather at Copperhead Cove in Lake Wylie where his family will scatter his ashes along his old swimming path.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.