Dr. Linner Ward Griffin, age 73, transitioned from this life on July 5, 2015 at noon at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina. Dr. Griffin was born and reared in Charlotte, North Carolina under the loving tutelage of her grandmother, Mrs. Linner Mitchell. Dr. Griffin began her relationship with the Lord at an early age and was very active in church activities. She graduated from West Charlotte High School and received a math scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she was one of the first African Americans to integrate the student body on that campus. She met and eventually married Bobby G. Griffin on July 24, 1962 and two children were born from this union, Jannifer Griffin Ituah and Jeffrey Franklin Griffin. They extended their love to also raise Donald Burks as their son. Dr. Griffin received her MSW degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her PhD from the University of Houston. As a social worker, Dr. Griffin worked at Guildford County Department of Social Services and several health care settings. She held academic appointments at West Virginia University, Temple University and East Carolina University. She authored several publications on aging and health, elder abuse and domestic violence. She was instrumental in the establishment and sustainability of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community housed at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Griffin joined the faculty at ECU in 1990 as an assistant professor in the School of Social Work. In 1995, she earned tenure and promotion to associate professor and served as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies within the School. In 1999, she was appointed as Interim Dean of The School of Social Work and Criminal Justice Studies and in 2000 was promoted to the rank of professor. During her time in the School she was principle investigator for two multi-million dollar training grants (The Child Welfare Education Collaborative and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Grant). In 2003, Dr. Griffin was appointed Interim Director of the School of Communication and in 2005 was appointed as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs and became the permanent Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Programs in 2007. As associate Vice Chancellor, Dr. Griffin was responsible for directing university wide curriculum and program development. This responsibility included assuring compliance with academic rules and regulations of East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina General Administration and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as mandates by the North Carolina General Assembly. In 2010, Dr. Griffin's title and area of leadership changed to Associate Provost for Academic Program Planning and Development. Dr. Griffin retired from her duties at East Carolina and was granted Professor Emeritus status in July 2013. Dr. Griffin was a faithful member of the Frist Presbyterian Church in Greenville where she served as a Deacon and Elder, Moderator of the Education Ministry, a Tuesday morning office volunteer and a member of the address angels. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to exotic places around the world and was preparing to travel to China in December 2015. She was an avid reader and knitter. She will be remembered as a compassionate, giving person who was a friend and mentor. She was an advocate, a skilled negotiator and an ethical decision-maker who expected the same behavior from others. She is survived by husband of the home, Bobby G. Griffin, one daughter, Jannifer Ituah (Martins) of El Paso, Texas, two sons, Jeffrey Franklin Griffin of Indianapolis Indiana, Donald Burks (Wanda) of Hollis Maine, 3 granddaughters Linner, Caitlyn and Tori and 3 grandsons (Donald, Jr. Martins and Roberts), one sister, Minnie Ward Allsion of Charlotte, North Carolina, nieces , nephews, and a host of friendship and professional networks. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 17, 2015 at Brown Funeral Home at 2:00 pm in Greensboro North Carolina. Viewing will be at 1:30 pm. A memorial service will be held on Saturday July 18, 2015 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the ECU School of Social Work Scholarship Fund. Checks may be sent to the ECU Foundation, 2200 S. Charles Boulevard, Suite 1100, Greenville, North Carolina.