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Linn Ann Griffin, co-owner at Strong & Jones Funeral Home, passes
Linn Ann Jones Griffin — longtime managing co-owner of Strong & Jones, the oldest Black-owned funeral home in Tallahassee — died Tuesday morning. She was 82.
Jones Griffin — who was named one of "25 Women You Need to Know" in the Tallahassee Democrat's annual showcase of extraordinary women — was a fixture in the Tallahassee community. She was known for her care of grieving families and lived by a motto: "Let your light so shine that men shall see your good work that glorifies our Father which is in Heaven."
Gary Goodwin, a friend and Sunday School teacher of the Patricia Proctor Bible Class 2 at Bethel AME Church, had nothing but kind words to say about the woman he said exhibited qualities that he wants to embody himself. He said Jones Griffin was a woman of faith who was dependable, reliable, generous and thoughtful.
"She's really mothering and her compassion extends beyond the church as well," Goodwin said of Jones Griffin who faithfully attended his class. "I would say her compassion represents a good Christian woman and what a good Christian should be."
Jones Griffin, who was born in Bainbridge, Georgia, graduated from Allen High School in Asheville, North Carolina. In 1965 she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethune-Cookman College and a Master of Education degree from Florida A&M University, a year later. She earned a Master of Library Science degree from Florida State University in 1977.
She received a diploma in Funeral Services from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Services in 1981, according to her bio. Since that time, Jones Griffin has worked as a licensed funeral director and embalmer at Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc.
According to the funeral home's website, Thomas Strong and his wife, Mamie Johnson Simmons Strong, met a "young funeral director in business in Quincy, Florida, named Elbert W. Jones."
Strong and Jones became friends and would sometime assist each other with funerals. In 1947, Strong's sudden death left his wife to continue the business and she turned to Jones to serve as the funeral director. For a short stint, the business was named the Elbert W. Jones Funeral Home.
In addition to her work at the funeral home, Jones Griffin also founded the Florida District V Ladies Auxiliary within the State of Florida Morticians Association. In memory of her mother, Inez Augusta Stevens Jones, a founder of the Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc. Jones Griffin supported an annual scholarship to a woman seeking a career in mortuary science — a field often dominated by men — in an effort to promote more gender diversity.
Jones Griffin is survived by three sons: Thomas J. 'Tommy' Griffin, Jr., Elbert J. Griffin and Alfred S. Griffin, three grandsons, Thomas J. Griffin III, Tyler J. Griffin and Tristian Griffin and one granddaughter, Aliyah A. Griffin.
The viewing will be from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 29, at Strong & Jones Funeral Home, 629 W. Brevard St. The funeral service will be at noon June 30 at Bethel AME Church, 501 W. Orange Ave., with burial at Southside Cemetery, 3484 Capital Circle SW, Tallahassee.
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@ and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Linn Ann Griffin, co-owner at Strong & Jones Funeral Home, passes
