WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Dr. Edwin Dale Griffith, 69, of Woodstock, Ga., formerly of Ashland, Ky., went to his heavenly home on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Myra; son, Gregory Alan Griffith, of Destin, Fla.; son, Jason Griffith of Wichita, Kan.; daughter, Dr. Marla Haller and a special son-in-law Paul Haller, of Jackson; three grandsons, Zachary Haller of San Diego, Calif., Nathaniel and Caleb Haller, one granddaughter Chloe Alexis Griffith of San Antonio, Texas; one great grandson Ayden; two sisters, Gaylena Griffith Slone, of Ashland, Ky., and Loleda Griffith Staten of Cumming, Ga. Special memories will be cherished by brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, and many nieces and nephews.
Born to the late Estill and Oma Griffith on May 7, 1939, Dale graduated Ashland High School in 1957. He attended Southwestern Louisiana University, Marshall University and later received his BA and MA in biblical studies in ministry from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta. Dale also earned his doctorate of biblical studies from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camilla, Ga.
Upon retiring from Armco Steel Corp., Ashland Works, in 1990, Dale was called into the full-time ministry. He served as chaplain to Ramey Children’s Home and the Hack Estep Home for Boys, was pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Louisa, Ky., and was appointed as church growth and evangelism consultant to the Home Mission Service and served in the Mission Service Corp. for the North American Mission Board. In 1994, Dale joined the staff at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., as minister of the evangelism and prayer and was co-founder of Messengers for Christ to assist pastors and their congregations in church growth. He also served as an adjunct professor for 12 years at Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta and chaplain at Kennesaw Transportation in White, Ga.
Dale was also known for his many years umpiring Babe Ruth and college baseball throughout the southeastern United States. A special memorial celebration will be in October at the First Baptist Church, 11095 Highway 92 in Woodstock, Ga., led by Dr. Johnny Hunt. Donations can be made to Messengers for Christ, Inc., Attn: Dan Vencill, 4625 Daphne Court, Ashland, KY 41101. Online condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhome.com.