Bobby Windell Griggs

Bobby Windell Griggs, age 83, joined his wife in Heaven on July 10, 2024, at the Retreat at Carolina Bay, after battling a debilitating illness for many years.

 Bobby was born to Murray Jessie and Lillie Mae Griggs on June 17, 1941, and spent 62 years married to his devoted wife, Barbara Lundy Griggs, who preceded him in death in April of last year. 

 As a young man, Bobby spent four years in the US Navy aboard the ship, USS Moale, where he traveled all over the world serving his country. When he got out of the Navy, he went to work at Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville. He spent 9½ years in the paper mill at Sonoco before he left to start his own business, Griggs Carpet Service. Bobby was known as the “best carpet layer around.” He also sold carpet for a while out of his shop on 151 ByPass in Hartsville, cleaned carpet, and would bind carpet to make rugs. Bobby was forced to retire from the carpet business in 1992 due to balance issues he had as a result of a hereditary disease called spinocerebellar ataxia. Bobby was told at that time that he would probably only live about 5-8 more years. But he did not give up. Even when he was forced to use a wheelchair, he stayed as active as he could by working in his flower beds, attending church, riding his wheelchair across the street to visit his friends, participating in the Senior Adult choir, and going out to eat. 

 While he was still able to do so, Bobby loved to fish and entered many bass tournaments. He won multiple trophies and his kids were always shocked when he came home from a tournament without at least placing in the tournament. He was a member of Hartsville’s Masonic Lodge 173 and demonstrated their values of Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity. He also loved to watch baseball, and he supported the youth of Hartsville by sponsoring a “Griggs Carpet Service” little league baseball team for several years. In his later years, Bobby loved to read – especially “clean” mystery novels and historical westerns. And he loved to keep his bird feeders filled so that he and Barbara could sit and watch the birds.

 Bobby was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church in Hartsville, South Carolina, where he served as a deacon for many years. The family has requested that remembrances be made to the Senior Adult Ministry or the Glorify Fund at Lakeview.

 Bobby was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Lundy Griggs, his parents, Murray and Lillie Mae Griggs; his siblings, W.L. Griggs (and wife, Helen), Steve Griggs, Betty Edwards, Elizabeth Odom (and husband, Ariel), infant sister, Genevieve Griggs; and infant great granddaughter, Michele Aubrey Ann Davis. He is survived by his son Windell (Kathy) of Calumet, OK; his daughter, Kim (Steve) Murray of Calumet, OK; his daughter, Teresa (John) Hill of Bishopville, SC; his sister, Judy (Roy) Huggins of Hartsville, SC; his sister-in-law, Judy Griggs of Elgin, SC; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

 The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at the Retreat at Carolina Bay in Hartsville, where Bobby lived for the last 5½ years of his life. They went above and beyond what they were required to do in caring for Bobby, giving him extra assistance without complaint after Barbara’s death. Please join Bobby’s family in celebrating his life on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Baptist Church, in Hartsville, South Carolina directed by Norton Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Ken Hughes and Bobby’s son-in-law, Rev. Steven Murray. The family will greet guests in the sanctuary following the service.

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Norton Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Griggs family.