Tot Griffin Graves

William Griffin “Tot” Graves, 83, of Chula died unexpectedly, Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at Southwell Medical Center. He was the son of the late Ray William Graves and Doris Griffin Graves.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Aaron Frasier and Dr. William Hancock officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery with special words by Rev. Larry Layfield and Rev. Aaron Frasier. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM., Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Albritton Funeral Directors.

Zach Cromer, Steve Griffin, Glenn Griffin, Gant Graves, Will Graves, Don Griffin and Jeffery Clack will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Dale Delk, Jamie Powell, Jimmie McKeown, Perry Conger, Roger Cosby, Russ Griffin, Robert “Scooby” Lentz and Danny Phelps.

Tot graduated from Tift County High School in 1962. He was involved in FFA, 4-H and basketball. In his younger years, he spent many hours working with his daddy on the family farm, where he learned a good work ethic and he knew the value of hard work. As he got older, he continued that tradition with a farm of his own, primarily growing cotton and peanuts. He and his wife, Johnne, worked together maintaining and harvesting his crops. He was known to plant beautiful sunflowers in a field by his home for all who rode by to enjoy. They brought smiles to everyone. He also enjoyed planting a garden that he shared with man many friends and neighbors. He loved watching things grow, including his nieces and nephews. He brought joy and laughter to them all with his endless teasing and aggravation. He had a beautiful mischievous spirit. He often shared jokes and stories from his own childhood with them. As he got older, he continued this tradition with his great nieces and great nephews. He always brought a pocket full of peppermint to share with each of them.

Tot was always young at heart and it showed when he was with his family and friends.

Tot is survived by his wife Johnne Tucker Graves of almost fifty-five years; his sisters, Joy and Jerry Clack, Judy Reynolds and Jana and Chris Cromer along with Johnne’s family, her brother, Jewett “Moo-Moo” and his wife, Jenny Tucker, her sister, Genia Willis, numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Their fur babies were their children, their two cats that went by the names Black Cat and Meow-Meow.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray William Graves and Doris Griffin Graves; his brothers, Michael Van Graves and Alva Ray Graves.

Flowers accepted or donations may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he was a member, 293 Mt. Zion Church Rd, Chula, Ga. 31733 or Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, online @ www.trmcf.com or PO Box 747, Tifton, Ga. 31793.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.