Obituary

Carole Leigh Griffin, 60, after a long battle with cancer, passed away at her home in Memphis on February 4, 2025.

She had been a special education teacher in the Memphis Shelby County Schools for several years. She leaves behind many family members, colleagues, and friends who loved her and admired her passion and her determination to overcome any obstacles that life presented.

Carole was born on September 1, 1964, in Nashville, Tennessee. She moved with her family to Tullahoma, where she spent the early years of her life. The family then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Carole attended Central Institute for the Deaf and afterwards public schools in Kirkwood, Missouri.

The family moved back to Tennessee, and Carole graduated from Gallatin High School in 1983. She then attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, where she received a bachelor's degree in French and Art, with six-month study in France, including three months in Paris. She later received a master of arts degree from Belmont University in Nashville.

At the time of her death, she was a teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing at White Station High School and White Station Middle School.

Carole was an avid book reader and enjoyed walking and traveling all over the U.S. as well as points in Canada and Mexico. Carole began her martial arts training almost two years ago and was getting ready to test for level 3 women's self-defense at WARRIORS Martial Arts in Memphis. She received the Certificate of Honor for her immeasurable display of strength, resilience, and courage as a fellow warrior.

She was passionate about literacy for the deaf and hard of hearing using ASL and Cued Speech. She also devoted herself to improving access for the deaf.

Survivors include her mother Lila Stovall Griffin of Memphis; father Douglas Griffin of Nashville; and brother Chris Griffin of Nolensville; as well as many family and friends.

Visitation will be held on February 13, 2025, at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home, 2707 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216, from 4pm until 8pm. A private graveside service is being handled by Larkspur Conservation through Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home in Nashville.

In lieu of flowers please consider a charitable donation to National Cued Speech Association and Deaf Children's Literacy Project.