Velma Griffin Long

Published 6:00 am Thursday, August 9, 2012

    CORINTH – Services for Velma Griffin Long will be held today, at 2 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church EPC in Corinth with Dr. Don Elliott officiating. McPeters Funeral Directors of Corinth is in charge of arrangements.

    Mrs. Long, 87, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at her home surrounded by family. She was born in Pontotoc County on August 9, 1924. A graduate of Blue Mountain College with a major in mathematics, she taught school at Glendale and Corinth High School. She worked as a bookkeeper at Long Wholesale Distributors, Inc. and also was a licensed realtor with Bailey Williams Realty for many years.

    A member of First Presbyterian EPC of Corinth, she served as elder, deacon, president of the WOC, church bookkeeper, and Sunday school teacher. Her “heart” ministry for many years was sewing handmade baby samplers for children and grandchildren of friends and family. Each sampler had the phrase “God gave us” along with the name and birthday of the child. In the last years, she along with other ladies of the church, made these samples for every child born to First Presbyterian members. 

    Her favorite verses are: Psalm 23, loving the characterization of the Lord as a dependable shepherd and guide over us; Psalm 37, which has been an anchor verse for her since college, and Psalm 16, denoting the joys and benefits of a life lived in companionship with God. In her last days, Psalm 118 was an extreme comfort.

    Survivors include one daughter, Susie Marshall (Bob); two sons: Sam Long (Frances), and Randy Long (Penny); grandchildren: Barnes Marshall (Leslie), Sam Marshall (Danielle), Scott Marshall (Helen), Peyton Hutchinson (Burney), Meredith Kimbrell (Aubert), Laura Kate Carmichiel (Colby), and Ben Long; 11 great-grandchildren: Maggie Marshall, Cate Marshall, Tilton Lee, Taylor Marshall, Molly Marshall, Clark Carmichiel, Griffin Carmichiel, Katherine Carmichiel, Annabelle Kimbrell, Max Hutchinson, and Sam Hutchinson; sisters: Elsie Blanke, Clarice Duff, Wilma Chittom, and Marlene Michael; and one brother, Max Griffin.

    She was preceded in death by her husband, Erst; parents, Marlin and Sue Griffin; and two sisters: Estelle Henry and Grace Dandridge.

    Pallbearers will be Barnes Marshall, Sam Marshall, Scott Marshall, Ben Long, Colby Carmichiel, Burney Hutchinson, and Aubert Kimbrell.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to First Presbyterian Church EPC, 919 Shiloh Road, Corinth, MS 38834.                

    Condolences may be made online at mcpetersfuneraldirectors.com.

    Visitation will be today, from 12 noon until 1:45 p.m., at the church.