Ralph Raysor Griffith Jr.'s Obituary
"In Loving Memory of Ralph Raysor Griffith"
Ralph Raysor Griffith, 77, of Bowman, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025 after a courageous battle with heart disease and complications from a recent stroke at MUSC University Hospital in the Neurosurgical ICU surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on December 22, 1947, in Bowman, where he lived his entire life. Raysor was known for his unwavering love for his family and his passion for sports. After graduating from Bowman High School, he pursued a career in education with a degree from Baptist College. He taught and coached for many years in the Branchville public school system then decided to change up and ran the Corner Food Mart at the end of town for about 15 years. After selling the store he got back involved with coaching football, baseball, golf and girls basketball for BowmanAcademy for several years.
Raysor was a lifelong Clemson Tigers fan, proudly sporting orange and purple most days but especially on game days while he casually waited for the phone to ring with any sporting line. Whether it was football, basketball, golf, racing, or just about any sport on TV, he could be found happily watching and checking theoutcome and scores on any given day. His love for sports was matched only by his quick wit- he always had a smart, perfectly timed comment to make everyone laugh.
Raysor was a devoted husband to his wife, Karen Hendricks Griffith of 46 years. He is also survived by his sons Ray (Megan) Griffith, and Kyle (Amanda) Griffith; his grandchildren, Kylee, Kinlyn and Kole Griffith; special niece/daughter Leslie Hendricks; sister in law Sherill Griffith; nephew Jess (Marla) Griffith, nieces Erin (Randy) Willie and Ashley Davis Shuler; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Mildred Griffith; and his younger brother, Charley Zachariah Griffith.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Prisma Heart Hospital, MUSC Health-Orangeburg Rehab Department and MUSC University Hospital Neurosurgical Department for their wonderful and compassionate care that was provided to him over the last month.
Visitation will be on Wednesday August 13, 2025 from 6-8pm at Ott Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday August 14, 2025 at Ott Funeral Home at 2pm with burial to follow at BowmanMemorial Cemetery. Services will be conducted by family friend Thad Wimberly. The family will receive visitors and calls at the home of Raysor and Karen Griffith, 7018 Charleston Hwy, Bowman, SC 29018. The family invites guests to wear a touch of orange in honor of his beloved Clemson Tigers.
Pallbearers will be Jess Griffith, Jackson West, Randy Shuler, Jerry Berry, Roy Turner and Troy Cain. Honorary pallbearers will be Rogers Smith and Steve Dukes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests all memorials to be sent to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or Wightman Methodist Church, P.O. Box 187, Bowman, SC 29018 in memory of Ralph Raysor Griffith.
Raysor's legacy will live on in every laugh shared, every game day cheered, and every moment spent with those he loved most.
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