Shirley Ann Griffin

                                             April 16th, 1948 - June 29th, 2025

Shirley Ann (Franks) Griffin passed away Sunday, June 29th, at the Suncoast Hospice Center in Pinellas Park, Florida. She was 77 years old at the time of her passing.

She is survived by daughters Anna Marie Duvall of Seminole, Florida, and Joanna (Griffin) Reinoehl (Brian Reinoehl) of Largo, Florida; Her grandchildren Samantha (Reinoehl) Lopez of Vacaville CA, Collin Beck of Largo FL, Johnna (JJ) Reinoehl of Largo FL, Brendon Reinoehl of Largo FL, Journey Duvall (Madison), Bonnie (Katie) and grandson Ben; and her sister-in-law, Theresa Franks of Tampa, FL.

She was preceded in her death by parents Flossie Bernice Edmonds and Arthur Lymand Franks; her sister, Betty Franks; her brothers, Ancil Coleman (Sonny) Franks, Paul Franks, and James Franks; and her daughter, Charlene Berneice Duvall.

Shirley was born in Louisiana while her father was in the Air Force and raised in Buncombe, North Carolina, where she spent a large portion of her childhood. She had many fond memories of her cousins, aunts, and uncles. They moved to Pinellas County, Florida, when she was a pre-teen. Her family lived in Saint Petersburg, FL. Their home was the first on the block. She knew a lot of the history of Pinellas County. She shared many memories of her father working at the old dumps in the county where she also helped. Shirley spent time in her life traveling to places such as Japan and Washington. She also worked as a beautician previously, later becoming a homemaker to care for ill and elderly family members. She volunteered and was an active member of the church for many years, serving as a driver for the church bus and teaching Sunday school until her eldest daughter's passing. She worked for many years before retiring. She has spent the last 20 years or so spoiling her grandchildren with love. Fall and get a scrape, here's a bag of candy and a rub on the back. Hungry, she would make them a sandwich, which her oldest grandson coined Grandwitch, so it stuck, and she loved the term. She always made time over the years, even when they were up late, to sit quietly with them and talk. They always walked away feeling lighter and thankful to have someone like her to talk to. She was full of wit and humor, and she would help wherever she could, even spending weeks learning math to help her grandkids learn it. It drove her crazy, but she wanted the best for all her grandkids.

The world has lost such an amazing woman to those who were lucky enough to know her and call her family. Some of her favorite things to remind people were to “find your happy place”, “don’t wallow, get up long and push a broom, life must go on, and you'll feel better once you start again.” And to “Always strive to stay on the sunny side of life and remain positive.”. She used to sing I'll Fly Away and loved old gospel like the original Chuck Wagon Gang. Her favorite artist was Marty Robbins.

Shirley decided against having a funeral. She had been to enough funerals during her life and planned on skipping hers. Instead, she wanted people to celebrate and to be happy for her, knowing that her soul would fly away and she could be reunited with loved ones and meet her heavenly Father. She passed surrounded by family who gathered with a Chaplain, who said Last Words and led the gathering in the Lord's prayer. May she always rest in peace.