Bobby Griffin Sr., the owner of Bobby's BBQ in Aiken County, was a fixture in the community, always ready with a quick sense of humor.
"That's what people remember about him," said Susan Payne, the daughter of Mr. Griffin, who died Wednesday at University Hospital at age 71. "He was really the sizzle in everything that happened in that place."
Mr. Griffin and his wife, Barbara, opened the restaurant on U.S. Highway 1 in 1985 after Mr. Griffin's retirement from Aiken Medical Center.
"He was the person that made it successful and cared deeply not only about the people that were there but what was going on in their lives," Ms. Payne said.
Even when Mr. Griffin handed over the day-to-day operations of the restaurant to his son, Bobby Griffin Jr., Ms. Payne said her father stayed involved.
"Until the day before he was admitted to the hospital, he was right there greeting people and feeding anybody and everybody that was hungry," she said.
Ms. Payne said her father had a "sense of community involvement."
In addition to acting as commissioner of the Midland Valley Public Service Authority, each year he dressed up as Santa Claus at the hospital and put on his red derby cap and rode in the Christmas parade.
Mr. Griffin was born in Oak Park, Ga., and moved to Warrenville 42 years ago. He served in the Army National Guard and was a Shriner and a 32nd Degree Mason. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Gloverville and the Scottish Rite. He served on the board of directors of the Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Heritage Corridor board.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Gloverville. Burial will follow at the Sunset Memorial Mausoleum with military honors and Masonic rites.
Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com
Comments
Have seen Mr. Griffin on many occasions over the years and he was always nice and wanted to talk about many things. He was a humorous individual and he sat at my table a couple of months ago and I really enjoyed his visit. I was not a close close friend, but my daughter was a friend of his daughters and spent the night with them on occasion. They were good friends in high school, but since have gone their ways. God Bless the family. I'm sure he will be deeply missed within our community.
I wish I would've ate there when Mr. Griffin was still around. I've been meaning to go try his BBQ. I didn't realize it was free though: "feeding anybody and everybody that was hungry" No kidding? Or is it that he fed anyone who showed up with money in their pocket and BBQ on their mind?
Bless this family- he will be missed. This is my favorite BBQ and has been for almost 17 years. Even my children love this place.
Classy man, great food. His presence will be missed around Bobby's!
i had the lemonade stand set up outside of reids last summer and i had someone saying hello, can we have a lemonade please and i turned and looked andit was bobby and barbara on a 3 wheel motorcycle like two love birds out having a good time, he always made me feel young because he always acted so young his self. I am sure going to miss that man and i know barbara is hurting bad, but bobby is where i want to be someday soonand that is in heaven. i along with many others miss you bobby.........
the barbeque was horrible, still is. but he was a nice guy.
you're not so nice to say something like that
No the barbeque is not horrible that is a bad thing to say about Bobby's Barbaque. He was always a good person. To his family he will be remembered our family like to eat there. We will remember him and his family in our prayers. Now if you want some horrible bbq go to Sconyers.
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