James Allen Griffis

James "Jimmy" Allen Griffis, 65, of Graham, FL., passed away after battling cancer at Haven Hospice in Gainesville on Friday, January 25, 2019. James was born on December 30, 1953 in New York City, New York & grew up as the oldest of 3 boys with devoted parents in Graham, FL. He graduated from Bradford High School in 1971 and married his sweetheart, Cindy, shortly afterwards. They settled in Bradford County and then went on to have 3 children, including 2 daughters and a son. James led a very colorful life; he lived in both Texas & North Carolina briefly, but spent the majority in Florida, he worked on a tugboat and then at DuPont for years before venturing into many different things that included owning a carpet business, a car dealership, working in construction, owning an antiques business and, most recently, operating a successful plant nursery. He will be fondly remembered for his charismatic & larger than life personality and an even bigger heart; he truly did his best to help people and always went out of his way to make everyone he encountered feel special, regardless of their color, creed or background. James was very intelligent, an avid reader & writer and loved to travel; he attended Sampson City Church of God & also enjoyed good music, going to yard sales, watching T.V., sports and was a life-long Florida Gators fan. James knew a lot of people and had many friends, spread far however, his greatest source of joy was spending time with his family; they were the light of his life & he absolutely adored them, especially his grandbabies.James was preceded in death by his parents, James (R.G.) & Julia Griffis, of Graham. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, of 45 years, and his daughters, Gina (Randy) McCord, of Graham, Melissa (BJ) Griffis, of Graham, son, James Eric Griffis, of Graham, 7 grandchildren; Isabella Perkins, Zachary Perkins, Dustin Hoyer, Colby Hoyer, Jacob McCord, Skyla Hallam and Tayden Hallam, brothers, Daniel (Bridget) Griffis, of Graham and David Griffis, of Santa Fe Lake, aunt, Anna Clayton, of Hampton Lake and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. He was a good friend, a beloved husband & father and will be missed tremendously by all who knew and loved him.Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at Sampson City Church of God. A visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28, 2019 at the DeWitt C. Jones Chapel. Interment will follow at Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.Arrangements are by JONES-GALLAGHER FUNERAL HOME OF STARKE 904-964-6200. Cemetery Hope Baptist Church Cemetery 3900 State Road 100 Starke FL 32091 US Viewing Monday, January 28, 2019 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM DeWitt C. Jones Chapel 620 Nona Street Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Service Tuesday, January 29, 2019 11:00 AM - Sampson City Church of God 8252 SW County Road 225 Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Home Jones - Gallagher Funeral Home - Starke 620 E. Nona Street Starke FL - 32091 US (904) 964-6200