Hattie Keller McGriff

Hattie Keller McGriff was born on July 18, 1918 to Samuel and Mamie Keller in Lincolnville, Charleston, South Carolina. She was one of the eldest of 10 children. She grew up in one of the oldest African American settled towns in the United States, which was partly founded by her father. Hattie attended The Williams Graded School, which was one of the first schools in the South for African American children.

Hattie married the late Frank McGriff, and together they had one daughter, Theresa McGriff. Theresa married the late Rev. Keith A. Gorley, and had two children of their own, Jason and Karmay Gorley. Hattie loved visiting her grandchildren in Tucson, AZ and was a beloved and devoted grandmother. Although Hattie did not attend university, she was a fierce supporter of education, and financially supported her daughter and granddaughter to obtain their Bachelor degrees.

Hattie will always be remembered for her love of God, singing her Christian hymns, her warm and generous spirit, and her delicious southern home cooking. Her sweet potato pie and her pear and apple pies were among the family's favorites. Hattie was a Seventh-day Adventist, and she enjoyed attending church until she no longer could. She could be found reading the Bible, eating her favorite fruit, watching the news, or her favorite shows such as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, or spending time with her family. Hattie discovered her love for the opera and passionately worked at the Opera house in NYC for years. Hattie McGriff was the eldest and longest resident at Stuyvesant Town in East Village.

Hattie passed away on August 21, 2022, and will be missed deeply and greatly by all those who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Theresa McGriff, and her grandchildren, Jason and Karmay, her sister, Louise Keller, along with several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Rita Keller, Thelma Keller, Mary Keller and Juanetta Keller, and her brothers, Garnesh Keller, Clement Keller, Ernest Keller, and Fred Keller.