Daniel "Danny" Wade Griffin Obituary
On Wednesday, August 28th, 2024, Daniel “Danny” Wade Griffin, 88, beloved husband, father, and grandfather went to meet his Lord.
Danny is survived by his wife of 30 years, Diane Ferrell Bennett Griffin and their daughter Katherine Elizabeth (Trevor) Griffin Pace of Archdale, NC; his sons from his first wife Lavonia Beasley Griffin, Daniel Wade Griffin Jr. of Magnolia, AR and John Timothy (Elizabeth) Griffin of Little Rock, AR; and his three stepchildren who he considered his own children, David Jason (Terri) Bennett of Charlotte, NC, Katherine Leigh (Mark) Hesse-Leatherman of Newton, NC and Leslie Alexis (Shawna) Cochran-Gilliam of Austin, TX.
Danny is also survived by one sister, Diane Griffin Parker of Columbia, SC, and nine grandchildren: Mary Katherine Elizabeth Griffin, John Timothy Griffin Jr., Charlotte Anne Griffin, Rachel Victoria (Jason) Bennett Pinnow, Zachary Connor Bennett, Lauren Ashley (James) Hesse-Riegal, Ryan Avery Hesse, Hunter Blake Cochran, and Anna Grace Cochran. He was preceded in death by his father, Wade Hampton Griffin and his mother, Bessie Reid Garvin Griffin.
Danny was born in Monroe County, NY on April 8th, 1936 and was the son of Wade and Bessie Griffin. His dad was attending seminary in Rochester, NY at the time of his birth, a long way from home for a Union County, NC man. Danny earned his Bachelor of Art Degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR, his Bachelor and Master of Divinity Degree from Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY, and his Doctor of Theology from Trinity Theological Seminary in Evansville, IN.
He pastored numerous Baptist churches across the U.S. before arriving at Wilmont Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC in the mid-1960’s. He remained there for several years before FOUNDING Carolina Christian Ministries on Freedom Drive in Charlotte, NC. There he pastored the church and established Carolina Christian School with K-4 to twelfth grade. During this time, he also helped start the first Agape Center to provide food and clothing to those in need in Charlotte and a Bible College near Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte. He subsequently pastored Immanuel Baptist Church in Magnolia, AR in the 1980’s, during which time he led mission trips to India, Mexico, Canada and around the U.S. before returning to North Carolina. His love of the Lord, his passion to spread the gospel, and to help those in need knew no bounds.
His passion to reach as many as possible inspired him to write seven books which he gave away free to everyone he met and mailed hundreds of copies to people who requested them. Two of his books were translated into Swahili and Spanish to be used by missionary groups who traveled to Kenya and Mexico. His ministries were far reaching and impactful. Danny semi-retired in 2019 when he moved with his family to a small farm in Newton, NC. There, he continued his book ministry, had a large phone ministry in which he made daily phone calls to people for whom he prayed, encouraged to stay in the word through Bible studies, and of course, made them laugh. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, a great friend, and a faithful servant to the Lord Jesus Christ to his end.
Psalms 91: 14-16 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.”
Danny was a one-of-a-kind minister of the Gospel and is truly missed!