Leslie Wilbur Griffin, Sr., 85, died Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Leslie Wilbur Griffin, Sr., 85, died Tuesday, December 31, 2013, at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his wife, Neloise “Nell” Griffin, in 2008.

Born August 2, 1928 in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Collin Griffin and the late Martha McLeod Griffin.

Mr. Griffin graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. and a Masters degree in Criminal Justice. He was also a graduate of the F.B.I. Academy.

Mr. Griffin was Sumter’s Chief of Police from March 1968 to May 1984, and served as both police chief and fire chief for two-years.

Mr. Griffin was a member and past president of the SC Chapter of the F.B.I. National Academy Associates, a life member, past president and member of the Board of Directors of the SC Law Enforcement Officers Assn., a member and past president of the SC Police Chiefs Assn., and a life member of The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He was an active member of the Sumter County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, a member of the Board of Directors of Sumter Crimestoppers, Inc. and also served as a past president and member of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce and the Air Force Association.

An Air Force veteran and retiree from the Air Force Reserve, he was an aircrew member with the Air Transport Command during the Berlin Airlift. He served as an O.S.I. special agent in Korea. He was a life member of the D.A.V., a member of the VFW and was an active member and past commander of American Legion Post #15.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and a member of the Faholo Sunday School class for 58 years.

Surviving are three sons, Kerry Mandeville (Jan) of Columbia, Leslie “Hap”, Jr. (Etna) and Douglas Griffin (Mary Dale) both of Sumter; a sister, Allene Ross (George) of Sumter; a brother, John Griffin of Sumter; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston officiating.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Terry Griffin, Harold Johnson, Joseph M. Floyd, Eugene Spann, Bruce Griffin and Rev. Richard Hampton. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Faholo Sunday School class, and retired and active duty members of the Sumter Police Department.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Friday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and at other times at his son Hap's home at 2740 Fenimore Drive.

Memorials may be made to Destination Trinity at Trinity United Methodist Church, and to American Legion Post #15.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.