Maryann T. Griffith

Maryann Griffith August 09, 1937 - December 21, 2008 Maryann T. (Perkins) Griffith, "Amma za kwa pwa", age 71, of Holland, OH, passed away on December 21, 2008, at home after a long illness. She was born in Toledo, OH on August 9, 1937 to Theodore and Cecilia (Daudlin) Perkins. Maryann was a 1955 graduate of Central Catholic High School. Although she had no formal education after high school, she enjoyed reading and research and she spent many years as a children's living history educator at Crosby (Toledo Botanical) Gardens. She also worked as an operator at Bell Telephone and later at Miller Oil Company. Maryann married Lawrence Griffith, a railroad worker, on November 3, 1956 and he got her involved in the Railroad Union, serving as President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Transportation Union for several years. History was one of her hobbies and she spent many volunteer hours at the Wolcott House with the Maumee Valley Historical Society from the early 1970's into the 1990's, including serving as the past President of the Wolcott House Guild. In addition to running lawn and house sales there, she helped start the Maumee Valley Historical Society's annual antique sale. For many years she hosted a French-Canadian Christmas celebration there. Maryann spent a lot of time with her historical research, especially on the local level, where she researched and helped organize and prepare the move of the Historical Flannigan House and the church on now located on the Wolcott grounds. She was also one of the founding members of the Holland-Springfield Historical Society. During the 1980's, Maryann began hosting Christmas and other events at the Peter Navarre cabin at Crosby Gardens, now known as the Toledo Botanical Gardens. That eventually led to her becoming a keystone of Children's Education programs there, developing a Pioneer Life summer camp program, One Room Schoolhouse and Native American education programs that taught many area school children about life in the early 1800's, in the Great Black Swamp. She loved having the school children call her "Grandma" as she presented the programs in her period costume. Often her historical research involved her French-Canadian and Native American background. Maryann spent many hours researching genealogy throughout the region, visiting cemeteries, courthouses, even the Library of Congress and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her Native American heritage led her to operate the Old Trail Mercantile and Native American Center in the Sylvania Historical Village. She and her husband enjoyed traveling in a three state circuit of pow-wow's, rendezvous and re-enactments. Maryann will be greatly missed by her loving husband of 52 years, Lawrence J. Griffith and her son Jaime. She is also survived by her nieces Annette and Therese Brown; cousin Leona Stark of Lexington, KY, as well as, other relatives in the Phoenix, AZ area. She was preceded in death by her son Lawrence James Jr.; parents Theodore and Cecilia Perkins and her sister Florence Brown. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Monday from 6-8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. where a Native American Funeral Rite Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. followed by a Catholic Rosary. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the mortuary, followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 10 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the Springfield Township Fire and Rescue Department and the Dialysis Partners on Glendale Ave.

Maryann T. Griffith

August 9, 1937 - December 21, 2008