William Howard Griffin Jr., 75, of Brookhaven, Mississippi, passed away October 20, 2022, King’s Daughters Medical Center after a five month battle with cancer. He was born October 3, 1947, in Carnes, Mississippi, William Howard Griffin, Sr. and Frances Dearman Griffin. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and Carnes, Mississippi, graduating from Forrest County Agricultural High School in 1966. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the United States Army and served his country during Vietnam. His awards were numerous during his time in the Army, his most coveted being the Purple Heart.

On November 22, 1968, he married Wanda Kaye Laird, and they celebrated nearly 54 years together. He and Wanda raised their young family in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Sulphur, Louisiana; and Dade City, Florida, making many lifelong friends along the way. They moved back to Brookhaven in 1985, where Howard worked as a carpenter and a gospel minister of the Monticello Church of Christ.

His happiest times were when he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. From baseball games to beauty pageants, he was sure to be at every event. On Saturdays, he could be found in his chair cheering for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He also loved leading his church family, and the Monticello Church of Christ, though small in number, was a very big part of his heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Dwan Swilley and wife Verl, and Richard Griffin; his sister, Tommie Lou Swilley Smith and husband R. J.; and his in-laws, David and Eva Nell Laird.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Kaye Laird Griffin; his sons, William Howard (Tre’) Griffin, III and wife Amy, and Jeffery Keith Griffin and wife Kaci; his daughter, Melanie Dawn Griffin; his grandchildren, Benjamin Viles, Will Griffin IV, Dillon Griffin, Courtney Maxwell Temple and husband Ryan, Cadie Maxwell Cole and husband Chris, Hunter Maxwell, and Garrett Maxwell; and his great grandchildren, Alyvia, Charleigh and Eli. He is also survived by his brother, Michael Griffin and wife Sandy of Denham Springs, Louisiana; his sisters, Karen Herrin of Carnes, Mississippi, and Peggy Johnson of Tacoma, Washington; and a host of family and friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Diversacare, KDMC, and Jodie Sartin.

Visitation is Thursday, October 27, 2022, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at Brookhaven Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Brookhaven Funeral Home with burial to follow at New Salem Church of Christ on Jackson Liberty Road.