Funeral Information
Location:
New Hope Baptist Church
Date: 05-03-2025
Time: 10:00AM
Time: 10:00AM
Visitation Information
Location:
New Hope Baptist Church
Date: 05-07-2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
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Obituary
Daisy Lee (Griffis) Long, 82, departed this life for eternity on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Memorial Medical Center, in Springfield, IL. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and friend whose life was a testament of love, service, and faith. She was born the daughter of Peter Griffis and Mae Ella Gates on July 9, 1942, in Houston, Mississippi.
In the late 60s, she was bound to Chicago to live with family, but before reaching her destination, she made a detour to meet some friends in Springfield where she met the love of her life, John E. Long, whom she married on February 10, 1967. Needless to say, she never got back on the train to Chicago. To their union, they birthed, loved, and nurtured Harry, Mary, and William Griffis, Deborah and Jurvenus Long, and Shawn Brooks as their own.
She was employed at various senior living homes and retired from Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency Room Unit. She also was an entrepreneur who was known as the “Candy Lady” of Brandon Drive Housing Complex. She was competitive in her marketing products and pricing of neighboring “set ups.”
She dedicated her life to the Lord and served faithfully at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Willie J. Crawford where she served on the Mother’s Board.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Griffis and Mae Ella Gates; husband, John E. Long; son, William Griffis; daughters, Deborah and Jurvenus; grandson, Demarcus Long; sisters, Gloria Jean Gates and Betty Ivy; and brothers, Thomas Cleo (Tom) Griffis, and Roger (Johnny) Griffis.
She is survived by her sons, Harry Griffis and Reverend Shawn (Florine) Brooks; daughter, Mary (Jed) Douglas of Vardeman, MS; brothers, Sammie Gates and David (Sherry) Gates of Houston, MS; sisters, Geaga Mae Pulliam, Willie Mae McKinney, Rosie Lee “PeeWee” Gates, Lorene (James Ray) Douglas, and Christine Gates, all of Houston, MS; brother-in-law, Curtis Long; sister-in-law, Rosie Long; nine grandchildren, Tamara Frazier, Daisy Griffis of Bloomington, IL, Kimberly (Vincent) Jones, Tish Douglas and Marcus Buchanan of Vardeman, MS, Cortez Jordan, Tierra Long, Shawn Brooks II of Greensboro, NC, and Lydia Brooks; twenty-three great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Daisy’s benevolent life was devoted to helping family and friends wherever and whenever asked upon, which was often. Whenever her assistance was needed, she was dependable, resourceful, and a comfort to have. Though she was very jovial and inquisitive, she was genuine and had a heart of gold. It was her strength, faith, and persevering attachment to Christ that is a testament by many who knew her which serves as a great means of hope, admiration, and courage.
In the late 60s, she was bound to Chicago to live with family, but before reaching her destination, she made a detour to meet some friends in Springfield where she met the love of her life, John E. Long, whom she married on February 10, 1967. Needless to say, she never got back on the train to Chicago. To their union, they birthed, loved, and nurtured Harry, Mary, and William Griffis, Deborah and Jurvenus Long, and Shawn Brooks as their own.
She was employed at various senior living homes and retired from Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency Room Unit. She also was an entrepreneur who was known as the “Candy Lady” of Brandon Drive Housing Complex. She was competitive in her marketing products and pricing of neighboring “set ups.”
She dedicated her life to the Lord and served faithfully at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Willie J. Crawford where she served on the Mother’s Board.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Griffis and Mae Ella Gates; husband, John E. Long; son, William Griffis; daughters, Deborah and Jurvenus; grandson, Demarcus Long; sisters, Gloria Jean Gates and Betty Ivy; and brothers, Thomas Cleo (Tom) Griffis, and Roger (Johnny) Griffis.
She is survived by her sons, Harry Griffis and Reverend Shawn (Florine) Brooks; daughter, Mary (Jed) Douglas of Vardeman, MS; brothers, Sammie Gates and David (Sherry) Gates of Houston, MS; sisters, Geaga Mae Pulliam, Willie Mae McKinney, Rosie Lee “PeeWee” Gates, Lorene (James Ray) Douglas, and Christine Gates, all of Houston, MS; brother-in-law, Curtis Long; sister-in-law, Rosie Long; nine grandchildren, Tamara Frazier, Daisy Griffis of Bloomington, IL, Kimberly (Vincent) Jones, Tish Douglas and Marcus Buchanan of Vardeman, MS, Cortez Jordan, Tierra Long, Shawn Brooks II of Greensboro, NC, and Lydia Brooks; twenty-three great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Daisy’s benevolent life was devoted to helping family and friends wherever and whenever asked upon, which was often. Whenever her assistance was needed, she was dependable, resourceful, and a comfort to have. Though she was very jovial and inquisitive, she was genuine and had a heart of gold. It was her strength, faith, and persevering attachment to Christ that is a testament by many who knew her which serves as a great means of hope, admiration, and courage.