Joseph Waldo Griffin Jr.

Joseph Waldo Griffin, Jr. MD, 81, died on January 20, 2024 in Concord. NC. He was born on April 20, 1942 in Williamston, NC to Joseph Waldo Griffin, Sr. and Grey Manning Griffin.

He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Sally Grey Griffin Stalls, and grandson Michael Sims.

Joe graduated from Williamston High School in 1960 where he was a member of the band, played football and baseball, and was a member of the National Honor Society. He received the prestigious Morehead Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and graduated in 1964 with a B.A. in Chemistry. He also graduated from the UNC School of Medicine (MD) in 1968. An internship at Ohio State University School of Medicine was followed by 3 years in the Air Force as a flight surgeon. He served at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, WY and his tour in Vietnam included serving at Phu Cat and Pleiku. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.

Joe completed a Residency at the Medical College of Georgia and served as Chief Resident. He then did a Fellowship in Gastroenterology and joined the faculty at MCG in 1975. He received the MCG Housestaff Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1981; the MCG Faculty Recognition Award for Institutional Service in 1985; and the MCG Faculty Recognition Award for Patient Care in 1995. He was also recognized in the “Best Doctors in the Southeast” publication for several years and received the Premier Physician award from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation in 1997. He was a member of several state and national medical organizations and served on the MAG Mutual Insurance Company Underwriting Committee. He gave presentations in the field of Gastroenterology, both nationally and internationally, and published several articles and chapters for medical textbooks. He also co-authored with his son Chris (DVM) an article which explored the possibility of using human medical gastroenterology techniques in veterinary medicine in 2005.

He retired from MCG in 2000 and entered private practice in Augusta, retiring in 2013. He continued to teach endoscopy techniques to residents at the VA until 2018.

He was a member of the Richmond County Medical Society, the Augusta Coin Club, the National Hills Lions Club, the Civil War Round Table, the Augusta University Retirees Association, and the Montclair Board of Directors. Joe was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and served as a deacon, elder, Clerk of Session, Sunday School teacher, and chairman of the Pipe Organ committee. He also sang in the choir and played handbells.

Joe enjoyed music, coin collecting, history, following the stock market, and many sports (especially UNC basketball and football).

He is survived by his wife Diane Griffin of Augusta, GA; sons Dr. Keith Griffin (Stacey) of Concord NC, and Dr. Chris Griffin (Stephania) of Kannapolis, NC. He is also survived by his granddaughters Kagan Griffin Ward (Joe), Michelle Sims Kruse (Will) and Aralyn Griffin; and grandson Alex Griffin (Maria). His brother-in-law Gerald Stalls of Williamston, NC; nieces Jodee Stalls McMillen and Sherry Stalls Roberson; and nephew Gerald Stalls, Jr. also survive.

He is remembered as an extraordinary and compassionate physician, a trusted colleague, an outstanding teacher and mentor, and a caring and loyal friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3131 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909. If you prefer, a contribution to any worthy cause that helps those in need of physical, spiritual, or mental health care would be appropriate because Joe's care for family, friends, patients, and strangers was central to how he lived his life.