EDGAR GRIFFIN “GRIF” ALFORD, JR.
AAFA #0452
1947 MS – 2009 MS
Edgar Griffin Alford and his wife, Carolyn Kitchens Alford
Photo from Making Everlasting Memories
Memorialized by Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, Ridgeland, MS
THE CLARION-LEDGER
Jackson, Hinds Co., MS— Monday, 16 February 2009
Edgar Griffin Alford, Jr., 61, died Saturday, February 14, 2009, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.
A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland is assisting with arrangements.
Grif was born on June 12, 1947, in Jackson, and he was the son of Edgar Griffin Alford, Sr. and Doris Baldwin Alford. He graduated from Murrah High School in 1965 where he was a member of the high school band and played bass in the local rock band, The Viscounts. Grif continued his education at Mississippi State University earning his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1970. While at Mississippi State, Grif was a member of the Famous Maroon Band, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and numerous electrical engineering honorary societies. After graduation, he accepted a position with Mississippi Power and Light (Entergy) in the Distribution Engineering Design Division where he planned, designed and operated electrical distribution systems. Grif also coordinated design for electrical service to residential, commercial and industrial customers. While working in the Distribution Division, Grif also served his country as a member of Mississippi Army National Guard. As a 1st Lt, he served as the Executive Officer of Co D, 467th Engineering Division and was responsible for monthly training and annual active deployments for the 100 man reserve unit. In 1992 Grif transferred to the IT Field Services Division of Entergy. As a member of IT Services, Grif preformed installs, moves and changes of Dell workstations, laptops, desktops and servers. Grif was a certified Dell technician and a Certified Network Engineer. In 2003 Grif retired from Entergy, and his love of computers led him to begin his own business, My IT Guy. For three years, he troubleshot computer issues and educated businesses and individuals in the use of computers. Grif was active in the Lions Club International, serving as the Jackson Central Lions Club president from 1999-2000 and serving as the Sports Chairman and Director of the MS Lion’s Youth Conference for boys.
Grif was an active communicant of the Episcopal Church for thirty-five years, the last sixteen at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church where he was a former Vestry member and a member of the choir. Grif loved singing in the choir and playing the guitar. He would often play the guitar at numerous Cursillos, where he served on many staffs, and at Camp Bratton-Green. He currently was learning to play the mandolin.
Grif was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed bicycling, hiking, geocaching and spent many happy times on the reservoir on his sailboat. He enjoyed playing tennis and woodworking and was very proud of the three rocking chairs he made with Greg Harkins.
Grif loved spending time with his family and taking his grandson, who was the light of his life, to the park. He will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, a devoted father and beloved grandfather and a cherished son, brother and friend.
Survivors include his wife of thirty-five years, Carolyn Kitchens Alford of Madison; daughters, Sarah Alford Ballard (Nate) of Jackson and Leahbeth Alford Turpin (Buddy) of Jackson; grandson, Whit Alford Turpin; mother, Doris Baldwin Alford of Jackson; brothers, David Baldwin Alford (Deborah) of Brandon and Andrew Stephen Alford of Florence; sister, Claudia Alford Stribling (Jay) of Jackson; mother-in-law, Carolyn Kitchens of Vicksburg; brother-in-law, Allen Kitchens ( Linda) of Vicksburg; sister-in-law, Cheryl Kitchens Aull (Joe) of Asheville, NC; brother-in-law, Don Kitchens (Kristi) of Germantown, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 5400 Old Canton Rd, Jackson, MS 39211 or to Camp Bratton-Green, C/O Gray Center, 1530 Way Road, Canton, MS 39046.
In another article:
MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL
Ridgeland, Madison Co., MS—Thursday, 19 February 2009
Edgar Griffin Alford, Jr., 61, of Madison, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, in Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. Services were held Tuesday, Feb. 17, at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland is assisting with arrangements.
Mr. Alford was born on June 12, 1947, in Jackson, the son of Edgar Griffin Alford, Sr. and Doris Baldwin Alford. He graduated from Murrah High School in 1965 where he was a member of the high school band and played bass in the local rock band, The Viscounts. He continued his education at Mississippi State University earning his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1970. While at Mississippi State, he was a member of the Famous Maroon Band, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and numerous electrical engineering honorary societies. After graduation, he accepted a position with Mississippi Power and Light (Entergy) in the Distribution Engineering Design Division where he planned, designed and operated electrical distribution systems. Mr. Alford also coordinated design for electrical service to residential, commercial and industrial customers. While working in the Distribution Division, Mr. Alford also served his country as a member of Mississippi Army National Guard. As a 1st Lt, He served as the Executive Officer of Co D, 467th Engineering Division and was responsible for monthly training and annual active deployments for the 100 man reserve unit. In 1992 he transferred to the IT Field Services Division of Entergy where he preformed installs, moves and changes of Dell workstations, laptops, desktops and servers. Mr. Alford was a certified Dell technician and a Certified Network Engineer. In 2003 he retired from Entergy, and began his own business, My IT Guy. He was active in the Lions Club International, serving as the Jackson Central Lions Club president from 1999-2000 and serving as the Sports Chairman and Director of the MS Lion’s Youth Conference for boys.
Mr. Alford was an active communicant of the Episcopal Church for 35 years, the last 16 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church where he was a former Vestry member and a member of the choir. He would often play the guitar at numerous Cursillos, where he served on many staffs, and at Camp Bratton-Green. His hobbies included bicycling, hiking, geocaching, sailboating, tennis and woodworking.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Carolyn Kitchens Alford of Madison; daughters, Sarah Alford Ballard of Jackson and Leahbeth Alford Turpin of Jackson; one grandson; mother, Doris Baldwin Alford of Jackson; brothers, David Baldwin Alford of Brandon and Andrew Stephen Alford of Florence; sister, Claudia Alford Stribling of Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 5400 Old Canton Rd., Jackson, MS 39211 or to Camp Bratton-Green, C/O Gray Center, 1530 Way Rd., Canton, MS 39046.
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates of Edgar G. Alford (SS# issued in MS), last residence Madison, Madison Co., MS.
We included the obituary of his father, Edgar Griffin Alford Sr., AAFA #0423, in Mississippi Obituaries.
Grif attended the 1991 AAFA meeting in Jackson, MS. He was the son of Edgar Griffin Alford, Sr., AAFA #0423, who was also present at the meeting.
His lineage: Edgar Griffin 1947 MS1, Edgar Griffin 1920 MS2, Leonidas Marcellus 1878 MS3, Stewart Floyd 1835 GA4, Julius C. 1798 GA5, Julius 1750 NC6, Lodwick 1710 VA7, James 1687 VA8, John 1645 VA9.