- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- Celebrating the Life of The Reverend Doctor Marvin Collins Griffin, February 20, 1923-December 25, 2013, Saturday, January 4, 2014, 11:00 AM, Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1010 East Tenth Street, Austin, Texas, The Reverend Doctor Ricky Freeman, Pastor
- Date of Original:
- 2014-01-04
- Subject:
- African American men--Texas--Austin--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Texas--Austin--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Texas--Austin---History--20th century
Funeral service--Texas--Austin--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Texas--Austin--History--20th century
African Americans--Texas--Austin--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Texas, Travis County, Austin, 30.26715, -97.74306
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Marvin Collins Griffin. Birth date: February 20, 1923. Death date: December 25, 2013. Funeral date: January 4, 2014. Church: Ebenezer Baptist Church (Austin, Tex.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Local Identifier:
- Folder number: 391
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_griffinmarvincollins20140104
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_griffinmarvincollins20140104
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARVIN COLLINS GRIFFIN
FEBRUARY 20, 1923- DECEMBER 25, 2013
SATURDAY, jANUARY 4, 2014, 11:00 AM
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH 1010 EAST TENTH STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS THE REVEREND DOCTOR RICKY FREEMAN, PASTOR
THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARVIN COLLINS GRIFFIN
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The Reverend Doctor Marvin Collins Griffin was born in Wichita, Kansas on February 20, 1923 to Beatrice Bloss and William Collins. He was adopted by his beloved aunt and uncle, Beulah andJessie Griffin of Dallas, Texas. It was there that he received his public school education and religious training at the Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church. After graduating at the age of 17 from Booker T. Washington High School, Doctor Griffin enrolled in Bishop College. He married his college sweetheart, Lois Jesse King in 1944 and they were married for 62 years until her passing in 2006. From this union were born Marva Lois, Gaynelle, who preceded him in death on March I of this year, and RiaJoy. Doctor Griffin said he knew he wanted to be a preacher by the age of seven. He often told stories about sermons he would preach to his young friends and the funerals they held. After he finished high school, he announced his calling to the ministry on August 31, 1940 at the Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he was later ordained. Education was the hallmark of his life. Doctor Griffin attended public schools in Dallas and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop College in Marshall. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Oberlin Graduate School of Theology in 1947 and was the first African American to graduate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Religious Education degr~e. He received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity (LHD) degree from Union Baptist Seminary and an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Texas Southern University. At the age of 67, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Doctor Griffin will be most remembered for being a Good Shepherd for 60 years at two congregations in the State of Texas- 42 years at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Austin from 1969 to 20II, and r8 years at the New Hope Baptist Church in Waco from 1951 to rg6g. His ministry was at the forefront of the promotion ofwomen in ministry and the
racial exchange of pulpits with white congregations. Pastor Griffin was an admired administrator, fiscally prudent with a vision that guided both congregations into property acquisitions, building ventures (a day care/family-life center, office edifice, seniors' apartment complex, parsonage in Waco, restoration project, renovations, parking facilities), and budgetary increments through tithing, offerings, and external grants.
The Reverend Griffin involved his church families in local, national, and international organizations. He was Dean of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Workers; Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas; Director of Christian Education Enrichment Program; National Baptist Fellowship of Churches; President, St. John District Congress; and a board member of the OneStar Foundation, Salvation Army, and the Austin Area Revitalization Agency. He served as a member of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs; Truett Board, Baylor University; Board of Trustees, Hardin Simmons College; Vice President of the Baptist General Convention ofTexas; President, Board ofTrustees, Texas Southern University, appointed by Governor John Connally; and the first black President ofAustin Independent School District Board.
Doctor Griffin was an engaged civic leader who advocated equal rights, politically encouraged voter education and registration, picketed against racial discrimination and built bridges across racial lines. He was involved in the YMCA, NAACP, and other civic organizations.
He was a writer for the National Baptist Sund19 School Commentary and contributed sermons and articles to numerous religious periodicals and journals, including Bridge Over Troubled Water, International Review ofMissions, and Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists. He also was an Adjunct Professor in the Pastoral Ministry Department of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1992).
Doctor Griffin loved history and served as the Historian for the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. He published Texas African-American Baptists and was the editor of The President Speaks. An inspiring instructor and lecturer, he impressed countless students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bishop College, and the National Baptist Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress with his wisdom and insight.
He leaves to celebrate his life daughters Ria Griffin, Doctor Marva Griffin Carter, her husband The Reverend Doctor Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr., and her son Lawrence Edward Carter, Jr.; his late daughter Attorney Gaynelle GriffmJones' husband Doctor Robert Jones, and her daughter Athena GaynelleJones. He also leaves to celebrate his life a host of church family members and friends.
ORDER OF SERVICE
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THE REVEREND RODNEY L. SWISHER, PRESIDING
VIDEO TRIBUTES PRELUDE PROCESSIONAL
HYMN No. 514
SCRIPTURES OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
PRAYER OF COMFORT
CHORAL SELECTION RESOLUTIONS
TRIBUTES
The Life and Times of Marvin Collins Griffin
"Be Still My Soul ," Sibelius
Ebenezer Handbells
" Sweet, Sweet Spirit," Akers
Organ Carillon
"Jesus the Light of the World," Elderkin, arr.
Congregation
Psalm 23
II Timothy 4= r-8
The Reverend DoctorJanice L. Bryant The Reverend William West
The Reverend Doctor Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr. Dean, Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel
Morehouse College
"Total Praise ," Smallwood
Ebenezer Choirs
Mrs. Orvis E. Austin Ebenezer Baptist Church, Austin, Texas
Mrs. AugustJean DeBose New Hope Baptist Church , Waco, Texas
The Reverend Doctor G. V. Clark President, Missionary Baptist General Convention ofTexas President, National Presidents, Moderators and Pastors Conference
Moderator, St.John District Association
The Reverend Doctor David Smith Executive Director, Austin Baptist Association
Mr. Robert Organ, Chair Ebenezer Baptist Church Deacons
Doctor General Marshall, Chair Ebenezer Baptist Church Trustees
FAMILY TRIBUTES SOLO MusiCAL SELECTION GRANDCHILDREN
EULOGY
REC ESSIONAL
Hymn No. 429 Hymn No. 22
Mr. VanJohnson, Executive Director East Austin Economic Development Center
Mrs. Lavon Marshall, Board Chair Ebenezer Child Development Center
The Honorable Carole Keeton Former State Comptroller, Former Mayor of Austin Former President, Austin Independent School District Board
"I Asked the Lord," Lange and Duncan "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," Raney, arr.
Doctor RobertJones Doctor Marva Lois Griffin Carter
Ms. Athena Jones and Mr. Lawrence Carter, Jr.
The Reverend Doctor Ricky Freeman Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church
"When We All Get to Heaven," Hewitt and Wilson "We Are Marching to Zion," Watts and Lowry
From " Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," by Robert Frost "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."
You have traveled your miles and earned your sweet sleep.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PALLBEARERS Deacons and Trustees, Ebenezer Baptist Church
ThANK YOU The family of Doctor Griffin wishes to express sincere gratitude for the support, kindness, and comfort extended during the illness and homegoing of our father and grandfather.
May God's grace and blessings be with each ofyou.
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO: Ebenezer Baptist Church Building Fund, IOIO East roth Street, Austin, Texas 78702 The Ebenezer Child Development Center, IOI4 East roth Street, Austin, Texas 78702
SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO: Phillips, Upshaw and Richard Funeral Home 1410 East 12th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
INTERMENT Texas State Cemetery 909 Navasota Street, Austin, Texas 78702
RECEPTION Everyone is invited to a reception in the Ebenezer Family Life Center after the burial service.
The reception will include historical photographs of Doctor Griffin.