Gladys Marie Griggs

GLADYS MARIE "NANA" GRIGGS, 101, of Jacksonville, died peacefully in her sleep, Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. She was born Oct. 2, 1915 in Judsonia, Ark., to Leonard and Frances Dunham, affectionately known as "Mama and Papa". As the oldest of eight siblings, her work ethic was learned very early in her life. She helped her parents with the younger children and worked in the cotton fields in Tyronza, Ark., where her father managed a huge farm. On Jan. 14, 1933, at the age of eighteen, she married Gus Griggs, who was twenty four. In their early married life, they lived in West Point, Ark., and later moved to Jacksonville to find work at the Ordnance Plant where she worked as a powder carrier and was promoted to Supervisor. She also worked for Erga Studios in Little Rock, custom painting men's neckties. She and Gus owned and operated Griggs Grocery in Jacksonville for many years. One of the proudest moments of their married life was building their dream house on Hickory Street in Jacksonville. She often said that at that time, the house didn't seem so small. Their youngest son was born shortly after they moved to Hickory Street. Her favorite job was working at First Jacksonville Bank and Trust as a Bank Teller. There was always a line of customers at her window, even though other tellers were available. She retired from the bank at the age of seventy four. Gladys was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Gus, and her third-born Dr. Donald L. (Donnie) Griggs, DDS, sisters; Beatrice (Bea) Van Nostrand and Hazel (Sis) Stroud, brothers; Leonard (Brother) and Leroy (Roy). She is survived by her loving family Kenneth (Sonny), Mary Frances (Fran), and Franklin Leonard (Frank), her brothers; A.J. Dunham, Calvin Dunham, and Alvin (Tiny) Dunham. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Gladys always said she would like to live as long as Papa Dunham, who died one month before his hundred and first birthday. She lived to be one hundred and one and had a wonderful life. She never lost her sense of adventure and was always excited and anxious to hear about the latest events in everyone's life. She was and always will be everyone's favorite person. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, a member of the church choir, Mary Martha Circle and Spares and Pairs Sunday School Class Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville with Rev. Nathan Kilbourne officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home & Crematory (501) 982-2136. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, 308 W. Main Street, Jacksonville, Ark. 72076. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.