Obituary of Donna J. Griffith

Donna J. Griffith, 89, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2024, in her home in Washington, D.C.  She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Calvin Griffith; her children, Jacqueline Williams, Debra (Craig) Blaner, and Kelly Griffith; her grandchildren, Tai (Calvin) Wingfield, Calvin (Lola) Green, Keith Williams, Mustafa Sabuur, Sadeeq Sabuur, and Evin Blaner; her great grandchildren, Cammari Green, Caleb Green, Calvin Wingfield III, Christyn Green, Caiden Green and Cai Green; and her best friend of 68 years, Emma Hawes.  Her family is grateful for the time they had with her and appreciative of the love, nurturing, support and encouragement she continuously provided.   

Born the only child of Isabel Edwards Jackson, Donna was raised in Ironton and Columbus, Ohio.  Her mother adored her and loved putting bows on her braided hair.  When Donna was eight, her mother passed, leaving her to be raised initially by her stepfather, and then by her grandparents.  At her grandparent’s home, there was always someone to talk with, play with and maybe even get into a little trouble with.  She had many aunts, uncles (one that was a few months older than her) and cousins, so even though she was an only child, she was blessed to grow up in a rather large and loving family.

While working at a convenience store in Columbus, Donna’s natural beauty caught the eye of a young man from the south.  Just one look was all it took for his eyes to widen as he said, “Wow!”  His name - Calvin Griffith.    

The two said, “I do” and moved to Washington, D.C. before becoming parents to three girls.  In the early years, Donna spent her time singing lullabies, changing diapers, washing clothes and tickling toes.  When the girls went to elementary school, she became involved with the Parent Teacher Association, prior to caring for orphans at St. Anne’s and then for seniors at a local nursing home.  Her priority was to be there for her kids, so she often worked night shifts.  She later worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield in their DC office before working remotely from home. She was the best mother a girl could have – giving them spending money, encouraging them to participate in things that interested them, making sure they experienced the theater and allowing them to each express their individuality. She created a loving home and a lifetime of warm memories.

Donna was always an outgoing person and was a cherished and valuable member of the community she lived in for over 65 years.  She was instrumental in organizing an annual block party that took place for 20 plus years, bringing family, neighbors, and friends together to enjoy good food, music, dance, and each other’s company.  She taught line dancing to a group of senior citizens and to anyone that wanted to learn – including Tai, her then teenaged granddaughter and her friends.  She organized many social trips to NYC, Atlantic City, Foxwoods Resort & Casino, and the Delaware Casino’s to raise money for the North Michigan Park Civic Association, and of course, to have fun!  Donna was also a Poll Hero, in that she worked at polling stations, enabling people to take part in our countries democracy by casting their vote.    

In addition, Donna was a sports enthusiast, loving to scream, shout and cheer for her beloved DC teams, the Wizards/Bullets, the Commanders/Redskins, and the Nationals.  But it didn’t stop there.  She and a few friends had season tickets to attend the Georgetown Hoya’s basketball games.  And she still routed for the Buckeyes – Ohio State University.  She read the sports section of the paper daily, subscribed to Sports Illustrated, and wore team tee shirts and caps.      

Donna lived an extremely full, long, happy, loving life.  She was constantly surrounded by family and scores of friends, who brought her an abundance of laughter and joy.  She will be remembered for her smile, her love of dance and sports, her love of people, and her penuche pound cake.  As her grandson, Keith, said when he was just 12 years old, “Grandma makes everyone feel special – even her grand-dog Cody!”  

She will truly be missed.

In lieu of a funeral, those that wish to pay their respects can come by her house on Saturday, April 20 from 12 – 3 pm.