Beatrice (Baker) Griffin-King

Mother Beatrice Griffin King began the journey of life on the 27th day of the month of May, in the year of 1927, in Caruthersville, Missouri to the union of the late John and Edna Baker. 

Her family moved to Benton Harbor in 1934 when she was a child. Mother Beatrice joined Greater Community Church, under the leadership of Bishop Nathaniel “Papa” Wells Sr., when she was 7 years old; she was baptized at the age of 12. The first church was in the Flats, now called the Harbor City Flats. It had a wood-burning furnace and an outhouse. Mother Beatrice had many roles in her church. She worked as a Sunday school secretary, and choir member, worked in the kitchen, and served on the Young Women’s Christian Council. She also worked as a homemaker and for a mission. She frequently visited the nursing home to minister to the sick and shut-in through song and intercession. Mother Beatrice was blessed with a beautiful, anointed, soprano voice and she used her gift to sing to the glory of God. Her favorite songs were “He’s So Wonderful to Me,” “How Can I Say Thanks to You,” and Calvary.” Her testimonies were “God healed me of scarlet fever as a child,” and “God healed me from bone degeneration disease, and she was in a wheelchair and the Lord blessed her to be able to walk again.

In her life, she married Newton Griffin Sr. to their union there were 6 children. Newton Jr, Marion (Carolyn) Griffin, Algeria (Harold) Griffin Johnson, Gail (Debra) Griffin, Janet (Chester) Griffin Tucker, and Terrie Griffin. Mother Beatrice has 19 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. A god daughter Tonyia Bicey. A daughter-in-law Carolyn Griffin, two special friends Mother Mary Leslie, and Mother Jossie Williams, one sister Alice Baker, and a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her mother Edna Baker, father John Baker, her two sons Newton Griffin Jr. and Marion Griffin, a granddaughter Staci Johnson and a great-grandson Marion L.N. Griffin Jr. 

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