Eileene Griffith, one of the most generous supporters of our seminary students and secretary of our Foundation’s Board of Directors, died on November 25, 2019. A native of Weston, West Virginia, Eileene graduated as Valedictorian from Weston High School in 1957 and attended Kent State University. She and her husband, Bob, along with their children, moved to Montgomery in 1976 and became totally involved in many outreach ministries of the United Methodist Church. Several years ago, Eileene caught a vision of the significant difference that she could make in the lives of our seminary students. She contributed very, very generously annually, gave memorial/honor gifts on a weekly basis, and took the time to include our Scholarship Foundation in a significant way at the time of her death.
With an outward and inward beauty, Eileene loved life in all of its fullness. At the time of her death, she was planning to leave in a couple of weeks with a granddaughter on a trip to Australia, as a gift to her granddaughter who had just graduated from college.
In Eileene’s native state of West Virginia, there is a great tradition at the University of West Virginia’s home football games. At the close of the game, when it is obvious that West Virginia has won, the sold-out crowd in that Mountaineer stadium stand in unison on the home side of the field and sing lustily the song made popular by John Denver years ago, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” It contains those lyrics,
Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River. Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, growing like a breeze. Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads. I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me, radio reminds me of my home far away. Driving down the road, I get a feeling, that I should have been home yesterday. Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.
Eileene Dempsey Griffith found not only a home in West Virginia, but more importantly, she found in Jesus Christ an eternal home, a home not made by hands, but eternal in the heavens. Jesus said to her as He says to all of us who put our trust in Him, “Let not your heart be troubled...in my Father’s house are many mansions.” (John 14:1-2)
We give thanks to God for the life of this dear lady who is now safely in her heavenly home!