James Lanier Griffin III

James Lanier Griffin III, 83, of Greenville, SC passed away on October 27th, 2023. Jim was born on June 4th, 1940 in Greenville, SC, the son of the late James Lanier Griffin Jr and Elsa Rose Griffin. After graduating from Greenville High School, Jim earned his BS degree from NC State University where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, and his MBA degree from the University of North Carolina. He was a sales executive for the developers of Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island before moving to Kiawah Island where he was in residential real estate sales for many years. After raising their family in Charleston, SC, Jim, and Fran moved to Greenville to continue their life and careers in the city where they were born surrounded by family and great friends. Jim completed his Master Tree Farmer and Master Wildlife courses at Clemson University and specialized in agricultural real estate sales.
Jim Griffin was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. "Papa" loved nothing more than to spend time surrounded by his wife, his three children, and his nine grandchildren. He loved to hunt and fish with his friends and family. On the rivers of the Lowcountry and in the woods of the Upstate are where Jim was at peace. We are all forever appreciative that he was such a fun, funny, honest, kind, strong, and loving man and will be missed dearly.
Jim is survived by his wife Frances Smith Griffin, daughters Lanier Griffin Thomason (Will), Mary Hunter Griffin Jackson (Lawton), and son James Lanier Griffin IV (Brook), and his nine grandchildren and one great-grandson. Jim is also survived by his sister Elsa Griffin Ayers (Jere).
Celebration of life will be held Thursday, November 2nd at 2 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal, Greenville, SC. Contributions in his memory to the charity of your choice.
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