Edward Lamar Griffin passed away at his home on Aug. 13, 2017, at the age of 67. He was born Feb. 21, 1950, to the late Edward Louis Griffin and Rosa Houston Griffin.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at 1 p.m. at Elkdale Baptist Church with the Rev. Cory Horton officiating.

Interment will follow in Marion Junction Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5–7 p.m. at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Adam Louis Griffin; granddaughter, Merritt Katherine Parris; father-in-law, James Louis Tackett; mother-in-law, Esther Cooper Tackett; and brother-in-law, Stephen Wood Tackett.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Tackett Griffin; son, Edward Lamar Griffin Jr. (Micha); daughters, Pamela Griffin Arroyo (Marco), Julia Griffin Parris (Matthew) and Deborah Elizabeth Griffin (Michael Clark); grandchildren, Nikolle, Kathryn, Christian, Marco, Li, Tristan, Tucker and Benry; sisters, Carolyn Griffin Taranto (Vince) and Linda Griffin Lewis (Larry); brother, Thomas Griffin; sisters-in-law, Rebecca Tackett and Teresa Tackett Willett (Dennis); and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Frank Rogers, Bruce Hutton, Walter Seekers, Gene Pegues, Paul Combs, Gerald Allen, Chuck Yeargan and Dennis Willett. Honorary pallbearers will be the 1968-69 Holt High School football team.

Eddie was born in Auburn, raised in Tuscaloosa and settled in Marion Junction.

He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother, Rosa, along with his three siblings. He had a lifelong love of sports, playing football, basketball and baseball to name a few but remembered fondly his days playing football at Holt High School and at the local parks in Tuscaloosa on Sundays.

Once Eddie settled in “the Junction,” he quickly became fascinated with farm life, always having a bountiful garden and plenty of animals.

He dedicated much time and effort to raising Angus cattle, keeping up with the industry long after his health prohibited an active involvement. Many an hour was spent on the bleachers at little league games and school sports, coaching from the stands or on the field when he could.

Throughout his life, he had a passion for fishing. He was always up for a day on the water with a good buddy and, of course, lots of fish tales.

Eddie struggled with major health issues for over 26 years. Yet, he never gave up hope that he would once more be able to fish, travel, sit in the stands or simply worship with his church family again. His strength and courage as he battled through his pain will be a testament to his family for generations to come.