Emmett F. Griffin

Emmett Ferguson Griffin went home to be with his Lord on Saturday, January 17, 2026. He was born on September 22, 1940 to John M. Griffin and Bessie Eleanor Miller Griffin. He grew up in Bartow and graduated from Summerlin Institute in 1959. He attended Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, Georgia where he took Agricultural courses and then attended Aviation School at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical School in Miami to take mechanical courses.

Emmett worked at Payne A/C in Lakeland, Hydroshell Duct Work in Tampa, and Air Florida where he worked on the helicopters that sprayed the fields. He also worked at Lockheed where he became an inspector of the airplanes. He also worked in the citrus industry as his Father owned several groves.

Emmett loved the idea of flying and attended ground school at Embry-Riddle, got his pilots license and bought a plane from his Miami trainer. Later, his plane was hit on the ground and he decided to buy a small motorized glider. He later bought a second one. He also decided that he wanted to Scuba Dive and in his later years, he took lessons and got certified to be a Scuba Diver. He went on several dive trips and especially loved going diving at Bonaire.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church where he accepted Jesus Christ as he Lord and Savior and was baptized. He said that he was a “womb” member of First Baptist. His ancestors were some of the founding members of the church 150 years ago. He met and married the love of his life, Margie Hattaway, and they married on March 29, 1980, at the church. In 1983, they bought a little house on Anna Maria Island and called it their “honeymoon cottage”. They especially enjoyed sitting on the beach watching the beautiful sunsets together. Several years ago, Margie developed Alzheimer’s disease and later fell and broke her hip, which resulted in surgery. She was sent to Bartow Convalescent Center for rehab, but her brain and her legs did not function together and she never was able to walk. She is now confined to bed or a wheelchair. Emmett was faithful to go almost every day and to sit with her and feed her lunch even though she did not recognize him or speak to him!

Emmett loved to travel and after Margie retired, they made a number of trips in their RV across the United States and into Canada. They also went on several bus trips with the LLL group from First Baptist. He thoroughly enjoyed his travels and talked about them and showed pictures to everyone.

Emmett was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard Griffin. He is survived by his wife, Margie Griffin, his brother, Bill Griffin (Barbara), of Macon Georgia, sister-in-law, Annette Griffin of Bartow, and a number of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an Organ Repair fund at First Baptist Church of Bartow.

Visitation will be on Friday, January 23rd, at 10:00 am followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Bartow. Graveside service to follow at Wildwood Cemetery.