Maldine Griffis Barnhill, 87, died peacefully at home at Sweetwater Farm, Hortense, on Nov. 25, 2020.
She was born May 16, 1933, at Griffis Fish Camp, on the banks of the Suwannee River, in the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp, 10 miles east of Fargo. She graduated from Clinch County High School in 1951, where she excelled as a varsity basketball player for four years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Valdosta State College and then a master’s degree in education and a six-year degree in administration from Georgia Southern College.
She began teaching at Odum Elementary School before moving to Wayne County Middle School as an art teacher. She was later assistant principal until her retirement in 1998.
She enjoyed sewing, ceramics and painting. In retirement, she began crafting, embroidery, jelly making and pickle canning with her husband. She soon became well known as the “Jelly Lady” at Saint Simons Island craft fairs.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elemuel “Lem” Griffis and Alice Howell Griffis, and her brother, Samuel Arden Griffis, and sister, Mary Alice Griffis.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, George Dame Barnhill; three children, George E. (Pam) Barnhill, Alice B. (Pepper) Walker and Beth (Jett) Bailey; seven grandsons, George F. (Megan) Barnhill, Hunter Barnhill, John (Charissa) Barnhill, Benjamin Friedman, Samuel Friedman, Stephan Friedman and Dash Bailey; two great-granddaughters Magnolia and Rose Barnhill; her brother, Alphin (Dot) Griffis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was born May 16, 1933, at Griffis Fish Camp, on the banks of the Suwannee River, in the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp, 10 miles east of Fargo. She graduated from Clinch County High School in 1951, where she excelled as a varsity basketball player for four years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Valdosta State College and then a master’s degree in education and a six-year degree in administration from Georgia Southern College.
She began teaching at Odum Elementary School before moving to Wayne County Middle School as an art teacher. She was later assistant principal until her retirement in 1998.
She enjoyed sewing, ceramics and painting. In retirement, she began crafting, embroidery, jelly making and pickle canning with her husband. She soon became well known as the “Jelly Lady” at Saint Simons Island craft fairs.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elemuel “Lem” Griffis and Alice Howell Griffis, and her brother, Samuel Arden Griffis, and sister, Mary Alice Griffis.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, George Dame Barnhill; three children, George E. (Pam) Barnhill, Alice B. (Pepper) Walker and Beth (Jett) Bailey; seven grandsons, George F. (Megan) Barnhill, Hunter Barnhill, John (Charissa) Barnhill, Benjamin Friedman, Samuel Friedman, Stephan Friedman and Dash Bailey; two great-granddaughters Magnolia and Rose Barnhill; her brother, Alphin (Dot) Griffis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Maldine Griffis Barnhill, 87, died peacefully at home at Sweetwater Farm, Hortense, on Nov. 25, 2020.
She was born May 16, 1933, at Griffis Fish Camp, on the banks of the Suwannee River, in the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp, 10 miles east of Fargo. She graduated from Clinch County High School in 1951, where she excelled as a varsity basketball player for four years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Valdosta State College and then a master’s degree in education and a six-year degree in administration from Georgia Southern College.
She began teaching at Odum Elementary School before moving to Wayne County Middle School as an art teacher. She was later assistant principal until her retirement in 1998.
She enjoyed sewing, ceramics and painting. In retirement, she began crafting, embroidery, jelly making and pickle canning with her husband. She soon became well known as the “Jelly Lady” at Saint Simons Island craft fairs.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elemuel “Lem” Griffis and Alice Howell Griffis, and her brother, Samuel Arden Griffis, and sister, Mary Alice Griffis.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, George Dame Barnhill; three children, George E. (Pam) Barnhill, Alice B. (Pepper) Walker and Beth (Jett) Bailey; seven grandsons, George F. (Megan) Barnhill, Hunter Barnhill, John (Charissa) Barnhill, Benjamin Friedman, Samuel Friedman, Stephan Friedman and Dash Bailey; two great-granddaughters Magnolia and Rose Barnhill; her brother, Alphin (Dot) Griffis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was born May 16, 1933, at Griffis Fish Camp, on the banks of the Suwannee River, in the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp, 10 miles east of Fargo. She graduated from Clinch County High School in 1951, where she excelled as a varsity basketball player for four years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Valdosta State College and then a master’s degree in education and a six-year degree in administration from Georgia Southern College.
She began teaching at Odum Elementary School before moving to Wayne County Middle School as an art teacher. She was later assistant principal until her retirement in 1998.
She enjoyed sewing, ceramics and painting. In retirement, she began crafting, embroidery, jelly making and pickle canning with her husband. She soon became well known as the “Jelly Lady” at Saint Simons Island craft fairs.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elemuel “Lem” Griffis and Alice Howell Griffis, and her brother, Samuel Arden Griffis, and sister, Mary Alice Griffis.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, George Dame Barnhill; three children, George E. (Pam) Barnhill, Alice B. (Pepper) Walker and Beth (Jett) Bailey; seven grandsons, George F. (Megan) Barnhill, Hunter Barnhill, John (Charissa) Barnhill, Benjamin Friedman, Samuel Friedman, Stephan Friedman and Dash Bailey; two great-granddaughters Magnolia and Rose Barnhill; her brother, Alphin (Dot) Griffis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gravesite Details
Maldine was cremated. The urn containing her cremated remains were placed in husband, George D. Barnhill's casket. But you can state Maldine was cremated, and she was buried with her husband, George D. Barnhill October 23, 2023.
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