Vickie Paulette Griffin

On Monday, May 4, 2026, Vickie Paulette Griffin stepped peacefully into God’s

presence after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on October

9, 1948, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Doyle and Lela Hawkins, and Texas would remain the

place her heart called home for most of her life.

Vickie grew up surrounded by faith, family, and the values that shaped her faithful spirit.

On August 26, 1966, she married the love of her life, William “Bill” Griffin, an Air Force

servicemember. Their life together began with adventure, moving first to Altus AFB in

Oklahoma. When Bill was sent overseas shortly after, Vickie returned to Texas, where

she graduated from Richland High School in 1967. Being married while still in high

school wasn’t easy and often had to ask permission just to attend school activities, but

she handled those challenges with the strength that would define her life.

When Bill returned from overseas, their journey continued. They moved to Robins AFB

in Georgia, then to Edwards AFB in California, where their daughter Tanya was born.

After a brief time in North Carolina, Bill rejoined the Air Force and was sent overseas

once more. When he returned, for a short while they transferred to Luke AFB in Arizona

where Bill was medically discharged and that led the family to Texas.

It was then that Vickie stepped into a role she never expected, which was becoming a

pastor’s wife. As she was a daughter of a preacher, it was the last thing she imagined

for herself, yet she embraced it with grace, compassion, and a servant’s heart. She

supported her husband first in a small church in Saginaw, Texas, and later as an

associate pastor’s wife in Louisiana. Together, they also ministered in nursing homes,

offering comfort, prayer, and companionship to those who needed it most.

Vickie also worked for various insurance companies, both national and local, before

becoming an assistant manager at a Christian bookstore, a place where her love for

Christian music and books shined through. Customers adored her warmth, her

knowledge, and her ability to make everyone feel welcome. She later transitioned into

banking while in Louisiana, and after twenty years, she and Bill returned to Texas for the

final time, where she eventually retired from banking.

Creativity flowed naturally from her. Vickie could sew anything from wedding dresses to

choir robes, and she would crochet blankets that became treasured keepsakes. She

crafted porcelain dolls, baked cakes for every occasion, and poured love into every

project she touched. Her hands were always busy, and her heart was always generous.

Now I am those memories keeper.

Vickie will be remembered for her laugh, her smile, and the unmistakable twinkle in her

eyes. She was easy to talk to, a safe place for others, a sounding board to those who

needed a shoulder to cry on. She lived a life of service, deep love, and unwavering faith.

Today, we remember her not with sorrow alone, but with gratitude. She is whole again,

happy and at peace, reunited with those she has missed for so long. Her legacy lives on

in the lives she touched, the family she loved, and the memories that will forever warm

our hearts.