Hellon Mae O’Neal Griggs, age 82, of White Pine, TN, yielded her spirit to its benevolent Author on November 7, 2014, at home surrounded by her loving family and friends.
She was born May 26, 1932 in Rockingham, NC to the late Jack Amos and Mamie Inez O’Neal. She dedicated her life to God and to her family as an example of God’s unconditional love and acceptance to everyone she met.
She is survived by daughters, Rosemary Griggs, Lillie (Terry) Smith, Janet (Franklin “BB”) Hill and Jeanny (Bryan) Preston, Sons Roy (Michelle) Griggs, Eric (Lisa) Griggs; daughters-in-law, Janice and Susan Griggs; brothers, J.D., Matthew, Clyde, Arley, and Larry O’Neal; sisters, Peggy Lewis, Polly Smith, Penny Moree, Alice Prescott, and Teresa Seebeck; 15 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and her faithful companion Smokey, the cat.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Willie L. Griggs; step-mother, Mary Alice O’Neal; children W.L. Jr., Sandy, and Ruth Lynn Griggs; grandson, Heath Griggs; and siblings, Louise Shoemake, Jack A. Jr., and Johnny O’Neal; and son-in-law, LTC David Pickett.
Family will receive friends at Farrar Funeral Home in White Pine on Sunday, November 9th from 5 to 7 pm. Funeral will immediately follow the visitation. Graveside interment service will be held on Monday, November 10, 2014, 10:00am in White Pine Cemetery.