John Curtis Griffin, 49, of Sontag, MS, died suddenly March 25, 2024, in Sontag.

He was born in Ackerman, MS, August 23, 1974, to Curtis Lee Griffin and Betsy Griffin. A private burial was conducted March 30, 2024, at his home. There will be a family memorial at a later date.

John enjoyed blacksmithing, homesteading and building his dream home. He put his priorities in this order — God, wife, kids, family, everything else. He has gone by many names, including biker, rebel preacher, father, grandfather, son, husband, and friend, but the one he cherished most was child of God.

Bro. John spent 15 years in ministry as youth pastor and pastor. He has been able to travel to many places on mission trips, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. He served in Sturgis Baptist Church, Sturgis, MS; Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Rives, TN; Eastside Baptist Church, Cave City, AR; Lamar Baptist Church, Lamar, AR; and Arm Baptist Church, Arm, MS. He will be deeply missed by all who loved him.
He is preceded in death by his father, Curtis Lee Griffin.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Deborah (Smith) Griffin; mother, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Mahaffey) Griffin; children, Carrie Sanders (Jake), Melanie Griffin and Curtis Griffin; and grandchildren, Robert Michael, Daisy Marie, Lily Rose, Mitchell Lee, and John-Dallas “JD” Koehn. He is also survived by a host of other loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers please send memorials to: Clear Creek Baptist Association, PO Box 166, Ozark, AR 72949. You may make checks payable to Baptist Vista, with the memo, “in memory of Bro. John Griffin.” (If you prefer, please go to your bank and use Bill Pay, there is no charge to send, just specify “in memory of Bro. John” to attribute it to the correct fund.)

This was a place he loved and fought to make great. It changes lives.

Condolences and other information are available online at www.riverwoodfamily.com.