Ersley Kendrick Griffin Smith

Ruffin – Ersley Kendrick Griffin Smith, 94, formally of Ruffin, NC, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at Clapps Nursing Center of Pleasant Garden, NC. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Hammock officiating. The burial will follow in Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Ersley was born on April 21, 1916 in Patrick County, Virginia to the late Charlie Reed and Minnie Stone Kendrick. She was a member of Shady Oak Baptist Church in Providence, NC where she loved going as long as she was able. Besides providing a loving home, she and her first husband, George were farmers for many years and owned Griffin Country Store. Ersley was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother that loved spending time with her large family. Living life to the fullest she also enjoyed sewing, quilting and travel. Along with her parents she is preceded in death by husbands, George Griffin and Corbett Smith; sons, Frank Griffin and James Griffin; grandchildren, Sherry Craddock and Ben Emerson, Jr.; four brothers and one sister. Ersley is survived by her sons; Charlie Griffin and wife, Marjorie, George Griffin and wife, Liz, John Griffin and wife, Betty, Richard Griffin and wife Ruth and Harry Griffin and wife, Mary; step-daughters, Jean Blount, Lea Pearce; step-son, Larry Smith; twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; thirteen great-great grandchildren; sisters, Olean Mosley, Gladys Lawrence and husband, Thomas and Adean Harris and husband, Harold. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 14 from 6-8 pm at Wilkerson Funeral Home. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Clapps Nursing Center and Dr. Gates for the loving care given to their mother while she made this her home for the last three years. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Clapps Nursing Center Inc., 5229 Appomattox Road, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313.