Josephine Griffin

Josephine Griffin was born on April 3, 1930, in Trenton, NJ. She transitioned into eternal rest peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

She married the late Rosevelt Griffin, Jr., January 1948. They were together for 47 years and raised 11 children. Before meeting Roosevelt, Josephine enjoyed her life as a young adult. She was a candy striper at Middlesex General Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ (aka Robert Wood Johnson Hospital). She also loved playing softball as she and her sisters were the best players in the Central NJ League.

Josephine worked at Edison Nursing Home and the NJ Job Corps before she began her 21-year career at Rutgers, the State University, New Brunswick, NJ. After retirement, Josephine enjoyed spending time with family and her friend/daughter (Carol Carmen). One of her greatest joys was to see her “ENTIRE” family celebrating together. This brought her so much pride and a whole lot of laughter. She also loved music and when DJ Abdul Wasi Johnson (DJ One Spin) would play “Step in the Name of Love” and “Who’s Birthday is It.” Although she could not physically stand on her own, she would dance in her chair with the most beautiful smile on her face. Her very last dance was with her favorite Pastor, Ryan Buckland, on April 1, 2023, at her 93rd birthday party. In addition to music and dancing, Joesphine loved to cook (she made the best macaroni wiggle). She also loved to go to garage sales, which the family called her “Yard-inTaylors.” Playing cards, which started many years ago in Nanny’s yard, carried over to Friday evenings as a family tradition. Sometimes they would play cards until 3-4 am. Most times, she would claim that she could not see BUT could see well enough to win all the money.

Josephine loved the Lord and was an original member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in New Brunswick, where she served as an usher. She later transferred to Antioch Baptist Church, also in New Brunswick, and returned to Tabernacle Baptist Church when Pastor Buckland became the Senior Pastor.

Status meant absolutely nothing to Josephine as everyone was equal in her eyes. She loved unconditionally. Josephine was unique in expressing herself; some would say she was witty. She had a gift of correcting you with love as she disliked confusion and disrespect. The one thing she instilled in her children was the importance of finance and saving money, even if it was a mere quarter – “SAVE IT”, she would say!

Mom would also say to her oldest niece, “Maxine, when I’m gone, I’m passing the torch to you!” Many claimed to be Aunt Jo’s favorite niece. She would say, “I am your favorite Aunt because I’m the only one living!”

She was predeceased by her husband, Rosevelt Griffin, Jr.; her parents John C. Williams and Louise Howard Williams; her sisters Mary Howard Miles, Catherine Bell, and her brother Milton ‘Flutie’ Williams.

She leaves to cherish her memories of life, 11 children, five sons, Lon Henry (late Mary), Alabama; John, Piscataway, NJ; Wallace (late Penny), West Virginia; Keith, North Brunswick, NJ; Kevin (late Selena), Piscataway, NJ. Six daughters, Betty and Grace Griffin, Piscataway, NJ; Linda Griffin, New Brunswick, NJ; Doris Jackson (Charles Jenkins), North Brunswick, NJ; Frances Whitten (late Gene), Somerset, NJ; and Rose Flowers (late Benjamin), New Brunswick, NJ. 30 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and 27 great-great-grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. What’s amazing is prior to Josephine’s passing, she had a relationship with her entire family and could remember everyone’s name and always expressed Godly love.

Josephine was Everything to Everybody!!!!

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