Francis Annette Matthews Griffith (1935 – 2024)

Francis Annette Matthews Griffith, loving wife, mother, and aunt, passed away peacefully at home on the morning of March 16, 2024, three months shy of her eighty-ninth birthday.

Annette was born in Kilmichael, Mississippi in 1935. Her family moved to Moorhead where she graduated from Sunflower Agricultural High School and attended Sunflower Junior College (now Mississippi Delta Community College). Annette was employed by Planter's Bank in Sunflower. Known for her compassion, quiet strength, and perseverance, Annette worked there until she retired, achieving the position of Vice President.

In August of 1963, Annette married Jimmy Griffith. The couple's pride and joy, Byron, was born in 1964. Annette resided in Sunflower until the passing of her mother in 2004. She then moved to Tylertown to be closer to her younger brothers, Roy and Ernest. There she joined the First United Methodist Church and forged numerous friendships. An avid reader, she always looked forward to her visits to the public library. Weekly card games of Canasta and Rook filled her social calendar. Her nephews and their children always leapt at the chance to play Rook with Auntie Annie.

For health reasons, Annette relocated to Poplarville in May of 2019. There she lived with her baby brother Ernest and his wife Brenda. Their days together were filled with bird watching, episodes of The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie, Ernest's guitar pickin', porch-sitting with a good cup of coffee, and much laughter.

Annette was predeceased by her parents, Doc Roy Matthews and Laura Bell Gregory Matthews, son David Byron Griffith, husband Jimmy Griffith, sister-in-law Jean Gibson Matthews, brother Roy Byron Matthews and his wife Mary, and brother Ernest Cameron Matthews.

She is survived by her sister-in-law and devoted caregiver Brenda Philley Matthews of Poplarville; nephew Gregory Gibson Matthews, wife Pam, and daughter Mollie Ann of Brandon; nephews Cameron Glen Matthews of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ernest Brady Matthews of Kennewick, Washington, and Jason Dean Matthews of Poplarville; great-nephews James Austin Matthews and wife Marilyn of McKinney, Texas, Cameron Michael Matthews of Dayton, Ohio, and Bradley Chase Matthews of Stringer; great-niece Bailey Layne Matthews of Kennewick, Washington; great-great-nephew Andrew Chase Matthews of Florence; family friend Jenni Sikes and children MJ, Landon, and Gabby of Poplarville; and her loyal and feisty feline companion Miss Kitty.

The family extends its gratitude to the doctors, nurses, therapists, techs, and staff of Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home for the compassionate care provided Annette. Thanks also to Secily and Visiting Angels of Petal, Kevin and Senior Helpers of Hattiesburg, and the wonderful employees of Arden Hospice in Poplarville. A private graveside service will be held at the family plot in Moorhead this summer. Those wishing to honor Annette are encouraged to make donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or the Walthall County Public Library in Tylertown.