John Wayne Griffith

Johnny Griffith, also known to some as Ringo, died unexpectedly on May 25, 2023, at the age of 49, at Good Shepherd Medical Center, Longview, TX. Johnny currently resided in Longview, Texas, but was born February 9, 1974 in Meridian, Mississippi, to Carolyn Sue Garner.  He was soon adopted by his maternal grandmother, Mary Ethel Griffith and her husband, Charles B. Griffith on August 29, 1974.

Johnny graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1992, soon attending college at East Texas Baptist University. He graduated with a Major in Psychology and a minor in Theater. He has been a dedicated employee, as an Operations Manager at Tejas Hydraulics, Inc. in Longview, for the past 20 years. He met his wife, Amanda Griffith, in 1996 and married her August 27th, 2021. 

Mr. Griffith was no stranger to talent. He started playing piano for Trinity Baptist Church at age 18 and continued over the course of the next 14 years, later becoming the Contemporary Service Pianist for Mobberly Baptist Church. He also played keyboard for 14 years with the East Texas band known as Dagnabbit, as well as keyboard for Lee Mathis and Brutally Handsome for two years. He did lights and sound for numerous organizations: Longview Ballet, East Texas Opera, Longview Community Theatre, Artsview Children’s Theatre, and Tina Vogel’s Dance Studio. He wrote and contributed to EGuide Tyler Magazine, conducting interviews with musicians across East Texas.  His hobbies included: The East Texas Bourbon Society, East Texas Cornhole Leagues, and the East Texas Brewers Guild. His civic interests and services include, but are not limited to, the following: City of Longview Cultural Arts Advisory Council, One Hundred Acres of Heritage Board, the Longview Arboretum Board, and the Great Texas Balloon Race Board of Directors.

He was preceded in death by his adopted parents/grand-parents, Charles B. Griffith, and Mary Ethel Griffith, his biological mother, Carolyn Sue Garner and his half-brother, Travis Levi Malone.

He is survived by his wife, Amanda Sue Griffith, and his five sons and daughters: Connor Zane Griffith, Colton Brice Griffith, Camryn Grace Griffith, Eden Grace Small, and Kenneth Randall Shelton.

A Celebration of Life will be held May 31, 2023, at Trinity Baptist Church, 5041 Estes Parkway, Longview, Texas, at 2pm. Flowers and condolences can be sent to Trinity Baptist Church. Those who wish to make donations for medical expenses or remember Johnny in a special way, may do so at his Gofundme account - set up by Jennifer Gober. The goal is to continue his legacy and set up an Awareness Campaign for his particular illness or disease if and when it is determined.

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