Nellie Frances Harrison Griffith, 91, native of Bay City, passed away June 11, 2007. She was born May 29, 1916 in Bay City, Texas to the late Francis "Frank" Thomas and Margaret "Maggie" Smith Harrison. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bay City. She started in the Kindergarten Department and joined the church on September 29, 1929. She was very active in church work and Women of the Church. She was head of the Kindergarten Department for seven years, taught in the Junior Department several years, and substituted in the Plus Ultra Sunday School Class, of which she was a member. She was honored as Woman of the Year in 1988 by the Women of the Church; headed up departments in the Bible School; and was an ordained Elder of the church.

She was a charter member of the Matagorda County Council for Retarded Citizens, founder of the school for the trainable retarded, with the adult and preschool classes. Nellie made the survey of the counties mentally challenged and set up a clinic at the Presbyterian Church on four Saturdays for testing the clients. She raised money for this by using friends to promote the sale of Pillsbury Cake mixes. By this time, Bay City had one of the first black Special Education Classes in Texas, as we were not integrated at the time. She hired a teacher with money raised by her husband's barbecuing calves donated by him, her brothers, and friends for several years, until the United Way was organized. She was on this Board and headed up the Women's Division. She served as President of the Retarded Council for nine years and held every office. She taught the older class of mentally retarded for five years. She served on several committees on the Texas Association of Retarded Citizens in Austin including; the nominating committee, the Awards Committee, and served on the Regional Advisory Board. She was asked to take a State Office but had to decline. She organized a Day Camp at Camp Pierce including other mentally retarded from neighboring counties, which led to the organization of Camp Flipper for the mentally retarded held at the Baptist Encampment in Palacios. She was responsible for obtaining the first speech therapist in the Bay City Schools. She found out it was compulsory that therapist was needed by making a survey. Speech Therapists were hard to find, but she located one who could come three days a week. She taught a Sunday School Class (non-denominational) for older boys who were mentally retarded. She was active in P.T.A. and band mothers when her children were in school. She was a Girl Scout Leader and worked with the Rainbow Girls, and was named Women of the Week twice in the local paper. The Chamber of Commerce awarded her the "Outstanding Citizen of Bay City " in 1965. She was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Star Chapter #380, Texas Retired Teachers Association, A. A. R. P., Matagorda County Museum Association, Volunteer of Bay Villa Nursing Home, and of the Center of the Retarded at Cullen Residence Hall in Houston. She graduated from Bay City High School in 1936. She taught Math and Biology in Hahnsville Louisiana High School during the war. She substituted in Bay City Junior High and Tennie Holmes Schools.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Joe C. Griffith in 1986, her parents, brothers Percy & wife Marie, Vernon "Red" and Frank Harrison and sisters Vivian Cady Weir and Christine Cook. She is survived by her daughters Kay and husband Paul Kaspar of Ganado, TX, Rebecca "Becky" Griffith, and son Joe Frank Griffith of Bay City; four grandchildren Jason Kaspar, Lance & wife Kim Griffith, Dirk Griffith and Megan Griffith; two great grandchildren Chase and Anna Griffith; brother Travis Harrison; sisters-in-law Mabel Harrison and Carmel Harrison and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Thursday, June 14, 2007 at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Friday, June 15, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. John-Nelson Pope officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Jason Kaspar, Lance Griffith, Dirk Griffith, Megan Griffith, Stephen Harrison, Tom Harrison and C. L. Cook. Honorary pallbearers include Charles Harrison, David Harrison, George Harrison, Larry Harrison, Herschel Harrison, Vernon Harrison, John Harrison and Donald Cook.

The family requests that memorials be made to the first Presbyterian Church, American Cancer Society, Matagorda County ARC, PO Box 1305, Bay City, TX 77404-1305, Houston Hospice, 1102 N. Mechanic, El Campo, TX 77437 or the charity of your choice. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City. 979-245-4613.