Douglas Fredrick Griffin, Sr.'s Obituary
Douglas Fredrick Griffin, Sr. was born on December 13, 1920 in Garden City, Louisiana, and was the first born of ten children to the late Reverend Douglas F. Griffin and Gustavia Griffin.Douglas accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized in Houston, Texas.Douglas graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1940. After completing high school and receiving his diploma, he was drafted into the United States Navy where he received an Honorable Discharge in 1943.Douglas possessed several work skills including duties as a Longshoreman, served as a Union Representative for the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), and was employed by the United States Postal Services (USPS) in Houston, Texas.Douglas met and married his childhood sweetheart Frankie Bernice Ray Griffin in 1944 and later moved to Oakland, CA where he was employed for thirty-two years with various United States Government Agencies, including the United States Naval Air Station and Port Chicago Naval Station. Douglas also served as a Union Shop Steward for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFDE), Local 1931.Douglas received numerous awards for safety between 1956 and 1980 for Advanced First Aid, Inspector Vector and Pest Control, Pest Control Inspector, Prevention Control Inspector, Disease Vector and Economic Pest Control, Pest Control Technician, and Alternate Pest Control Coordinator. Other recognitions include a Letter of Appreciation from the United States Naval Weapon Station for outstanding efforts in Charity Fundraiser of $28,000.00 in 1970. Douglas was also the Vice President of East Oakland Senior Center, Inc. His favorite hobbies at the senior center were being Santa Clause, playing cards, dominoes, and dancing. Douglas was also an active community representative for the City of Oakland that implemented the clean up of illegal dumping on Rail Road Avenue and was an active member of Hiram of Tyre Masonic Grand Lodge, Progressive #55 located in Oakland, California.Douglas passed peacefully May 23, 2016 in Oakland, California. Preceding him in death, his lovely wife of forty-eight years Frankie Bernice Griffin; Son, Douglas Griffin Jr.; three brothers, Jessie Griffin, Louis Joshua Griffin, and Torris Griffin; three sisters, Ceola Ballenger, Gustavia Griffin, and Naomi Oliver. He leaves to cherish his memories: three sisters, Ruth Hall and Josie May Griffin of Houston, Texas; Vivian Tatum (Reverend Buford Tatum) of Los Angeles California; one daughter, Anitta Fay Caillier, of Castro Valley, California; two sons Bernard Ray Griffin and Felix Young Griffin of Oakland, California; Grandchildren, Derrick Caillier (Tanya) of Antioch, California, Dietrich Caillier of Eugene, Oregon, and Jamecka Griffin of Oakland, California; Great Grandchildren, Kamesha Caillier of Hayward California, Noah Caillier and Jadon Caillier of Eugene, Oregon; Josiah Caillier, Tiaerika Gregory, Olivia Gregory and Carmine Dean of Antioch, California; Special Friend Rusciua Wilsin of Oakland, California and of host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
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