Shirley Parker Griffin

       Shirley Parker Griffin, 80, passed away on December 20, 2025. The daughter of Henry Bonson Parker and Bretta Alice (Grace) Durham Parker was born in Iredell County, NC on June 17, 1945. Shirley was the youngest of five children: Bobby Parker (Angela), Charles Parker (Dorothy), Harold Parker (Carol), and Barbara Lawson (Terry). Henry and Grace raised their family on farmland in Clemmons that later became Parker Ct., Parkhurst Dr., and Sedalia Dr. Consequently, Shirley attended Clemmons Elementary School, Southwest High School, and Clemmons Baptist Church. 
        Shirley married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Paul Griffin, Jr., a union that lasted 37 years. Together they had their only child, Robert Paul Griffin, III (Deirdre Griggs Griffin). Shirley was proud to claim Kirt Watkins as her godson who always had the uncanny ability to make her laugh and smile. 
        She began the first 10 years of her work career at Integon Insurance in Winston-Salem. From there, Shirley applied her strong work ethic to a career at the Clemmons Post Office where she served as both a rural letter carrier and a postal clerk. Her years at the Post Office resulted in the impressive ability to recite every Clemmons resident, their children, and their street address.
         The joy in Shirley’s life was derived from her extended Parker family, which she dearly loved and cherished. Thirty-two “Parkers” cramming into Mamaw and Papaw’s house eating Pa’s honey-cured ham was the highlight of Christmas. Life was never better. An avid reader and a Clemmons girl through and through, she also enjoyed baking birthday cakes, attending Elvis concerts, square dancing as a member of the Salem Squares Club, water skiing at Lake Norman, traveling the world with friends and family, ice fishing for trout near West Yellowstone, MT with her son and daughter-in-law, and drinking an endless cup of black coffee. 
         Suffering the cruelty of Dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases, Shirley spent the last eight years of her life at Trinity Elms Assisted Living where she was provided love and exceptional care. The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the team members at Trinity Elms who cared for Mom. Additionally, we would like to thank Dr. Roach, Dr. Perrott, Kayla Peksenar, PA and more recently Trellis Supportive Care for their excellent care and going beyond the call of duty. 
         There are no services planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you take a moment to celebrate life and make a donation to the charity of your choice in memory of Shirley Griffin.