City remembers longtime clerk, dedicated soldier

Griffin also served his community as Enterprise's city clerk and administrator for more than 20 years.

A native of Columbus, Ga., Griffin enlisted in the military in 1941 as a member of what was then called the Army Air Corp.

After enlisting, Griffin went to jump school and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division Parachute Infantry Regiment.

During World War II, he served in the European Theater at Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge.

As hostilities grew in Korea in 1945, he served as a platoon sergeant with the Airborne Regimental Combat Team.

During his military career Griffin served tours in Germany, Japan and Lebanon as well as other areas of Europe and the United States.

While in Lebanon he was selected to be one of the Army's first noncommissioned officers to earn the rank of master sergeant.

Griffin served in the Pentagon as a senior noncommissioned officer for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff.

While at the Pentagon, he was also the enlisted representative to the Department of the Army staff on worldwide matters.

He was one of the first selected to receive the new rank of command sergeant major and was assigned to Fort Rucker as post command sergeant major.

Following a tour in Korea where he served as the Eighth Army and U.S. Forces in Korea command sergeant major, he returned to Fort Rucker where he retired.

Griffin and his wife of 66 years, Faye, made their home in Enterprise and had four children who all attended Enterprise High School.

In his retirement, Griffin continued his active service with the military as a member of AUSA, having been a member since its inception and later serving on the board of directors.

Griffin was honored in 2007 for his 53 years serving as a voice for America's soldiers through AUSA.

The Fort Rucker/Wiregrass Chapter presented Griffin with one of AUSA's most prestigious awards, the Brenda M. Dougherty AUSA Lifetime of Service Award.

Griffin spent two years as a JROTC instructor at Enterprise High School before two years as manager of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce.

In October 1972, Griffin took on the duties of city clerk and administrator, which he continued to do until March 1990. He was also interim clerk from October 1992 until March 1994.

He served under Enterprise mayors G.C. Don Donaldson, Jacqueline Thompson and Johnny Henderson.

Griffin made several contributions to the country and community in both the military and in his career as a civilian.

His family describes him as a good man and a good soldier. He was someone who had a light manner and was always ready to laugh and truly cared for others.

He is survived by his wife and sons Carl W. Griffin Jr. and his wife Lorelle of Monmouth Beach, NJ; Timothy M. Griffin and his wife Angela of Dothan; Marvin L. Griffin and his wife Alison of Fort Hood, Texas; daughter Cecilia Allan and her husband Brian of Houston, Texas; grandsons Carl E. Griffin and his wife Carrie of Monmouth Beach, NJ; Timothy P. Griffin and his wife Kym of Monmouth Beach, NJ; Zachary Johnson of Houston, Texas; Hunter Bridges of Dothan; Benjamin J. Griffin of Fort Hood, Texas; William M. Griffin of Fort Hood, Texas; granddaughter Sarah Johnson of Houston, Texas; great grandson Carl E. Griffin, Jr. of Monmouth, NJ; and great granddaughter Samantha Griffin of Monmouth, NJ.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Dec. 31, at Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel with the Rev. Rob West officiating. Burial will follow in Meadowlawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m., Dec. 30, at the funeral home.