Jay (Jane Marie) Griffin, a student at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, took his own life on Thursday morning, May 25, 2017.
Jay is survived by his parents, Matt and Erin Georgia; his sisters, Julia and Anna Georgia; his maternal grandmother, Jane Griffin; his paternal grandparents, Greg and Cathy Georgia; and predeceased by his maternal grandfather Monty Griffin.
Jay was born at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, in Jacksonville, NC on November 26th, 2003 to United States Marine Corps Corporal Erin Georgia. Jay has extended paternal family, Jimmie Colon and his mother Carmen Reyes, who currently reside in Orlando,Florida. Jay lived in North Carolina, California, Georgia, and finally Trussville, Alabama during his 13 years of life.
Jay was first and foremost a beautiful spirit. From Jay’s scouting years in American Heritage Girls, to experimenting in youth lacrosse, and to playing clarinet in the middle school band, Jay grew more confident in discovering his true identity as Jay Griffin. From that personal moment of self-discovery to his more public declarations of identity, Jay was an advocate for the LBGTQ community. Between publicly educating friends and family on proper pronoun use, and privately struggling with being called by his birth name and gender, Jay continued searching for the ever-elusive balance of social acceptance and personal validation.
It is because of his bright spirit and personal struggles that many lives have been changed and many more questions will be pondered. Unprompted, Jay would tell them to challenge what they think they know and to discuss all perspectives.
n lieu of flowers, Jay’s parents ask that donations be made to the Magic City Acceptance Center in Birmingham AL, a safe supportive, and affirming space for LBGTQ youth, young adults and their allies. https://donorbox.org/embed/magic-city-acceptance-center
Services for Jay Griffin are scheduled for Tuesday, May 30th at First United Methodist in Trussville, AL. Family visitation starts at 3 p.m., and then opens to the public at 4 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 5 p.m., with light refreshments and reception immediately following.
121 Comments
Danna Gilmer Coffey
This is a beautiful tribute! May he Rest In Peace!
Audrey Johnson Shannon
Beautifully written. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Janice McCraw Sims
Heartbreaking…
Kimberly Ragland Tarver
This is a very nice tribute. My thoughts and prayers are with this family. May God comfort them during this difficult time.
Brooke Naramore McKinney
Kaila Kristine Cherry
Dustie Bingen
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Kimberly Butler Anderson
So sad to hear!
Judy Morrow Rice
Hurts my heart praying for the family
Karen Mckinney
RIP now young soul. Prayers for the family
Dianne Bobo-Carraway
Prayers for family!
Josie Smith
Praying for family
Danielle Howard
How tragic! My thoughts are with his family ❤️
Danielle Howard
How tragic! My thoughts are with his family ❤️
Tonya Hardin Yarchak
Middle school is the 9 cycles of hell in 1 building especially for anyone a little different or trying to find their place in the world. I admire this family’s honesty and openness. This tribute touched my heart. My prayers are with them.
Tonya Hardin Yarchak
Middle school is the 9 cycles of hell in 1 building especially for anyone a little different or trying to find their place in the world. I admire this family’s honesty and openness. This tribute touched my heart. My prayers are with them.
Dana Simpson
Prayers and love for this family….
Dana Simpson
Prayers and love for this family….
Donna Santos Griffith
Continued prayers for this sweet family. Prayers continue for his friends, classmates and teachers.
Donna Santos Griffith
Continued prayers for this sweet family. Prayers continue for his friends, classmates and teachers.
Kalai Kennedy-Lynam
Agreed. My children never faced such mean and ugly bullies as they had to endure during Middle School.
Kalai Kennedy-Lynam
Agreed. My children never faced such mean and ugly bullies as they had to endure during Middle School.
Kalai Kennedy-Lynam
Madeline Kennedy Hopkins
Kalai Kennedy-Lynam
Madeline Kennedy Hopkins
Jamie Hall
Heart breaking right now. I had heard through my son about this, but had no details. Middle school is such a tough time of trying to figure Life out. My prayers are for this family and all those who knew them.
Jamie Hall
Heart breaking right now. I had heard through my son about this, but had no details. Middle school is such a tough time of trying to figure Life out. My prayers are for this family and all those who knew them.
Dale Cagle Harry
Praying for this family! Middle school is horrible!
Dale Cagle Harry
Praying for this family! Middle school is horrible!
Tonya Hardin Yarchak
Yes and your child being popular doesn’t make them immune. I hope everyone who hears this story talks to their children about bullying and being bullied.
Tonya Hardin Yarchak
Yes and your child being popular doesn’t make them immune. I hope everyone who hears this story talks to their children about bullying and being bullied.
Helen Perez Dean
Praying for the family
Helen Perez Dean
Praying for the family
Roxanne Blount
This hurts my heart so bad. I hope his soul is at rest now. I love him and don’t know him. Bless him and his family.
Roxanne Blount
This hurts my heart so bad. I hope his soul is at rest now. I love him and don’t know him. Bless him and his family.
Elizabeth McKee
My heartbreak … praying for this family!
Elizabeth McKee
My heartbreak … praying for this family!
Matt Coleman
I pray for the morals of this country. mental illness is running rampant in our society
Matt Coleman
I pray for the morals of this country. mental illness is running rampant in our society
Kem Sims
Prayers for his family and loved ones.
Kem Sims
Prayers for his family and loved ones.
Sherina Evins
Beautifully written tribute, RIP.
Sherina Evins
Beautifully written tribute, RIP.
Lisa Sammons Pine
Bless this family. Kindness anywhere (middle school etc) starts with you.
Lisa Sammons Pine
Bless this family. Kindness anywhere (middle school etc) starts with you.
Shannon Grissom Harvison
Praying for this family so sorry for the loss of such a beautiful soul!!
Shannon Grissom Harvison
Praying for this family so sorry for the loss of such a beautiful soul!!
Traci Biggs
prayers for the family
Traci Biggs
prayers for the family
Crystal Trowbridge Burford
Beautifully written. Prayers and strength for the family in the days ahead
Crystal Trowbridge Burford
Beautifully written. Prayers and strength for the family in the days ahead
Kaye Elle Louis
My deepest condolences to this grieving family. Special prayers of comfort to all that loved him. As a parent, my heart ached reading this. It is my prayer his mom finds peace knowing her baby is at rest.
Kaye Elle Louis
My deepest condolences to this grieving family. Special prayers of comfort to all that loved him. As a parent, my heart ached reading this. It is my prayer his mom finds peace knowing her baby is at rest.
Lidia Romero Sanchez
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Lidia Romero Sanchez
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Emily Serafin Hatchett
Prayers for this family. No parent should have to bury their child. My heart aches. Such a beautiful tribute.
Danielle Hernandez Harmon
My heart breaks for this family. Praying for his family and friends.
Andrea Mangino Kring
Let his life be a challenge to us all to never take for granted another soul in pain. This type of loss can be prevented with acceptance and love. God, give peace and grace to this family.
Crystal Franklin
My heart is breaking! That’s just terrible!
Laura Mullins
Prayers for comfort.
Lindsey Maddox Bowman
So senseless. We need to talk to our children about how above all, kindness. Donation made.
Susan Henry Barber
Reading this tribute made me think of the words from a song “this world was never meant for you as beautiful as you”. Rest In Peace Jay Jane Marie.
Cynthia Ray
We send our condolences and prayers for peace for his family.
Rose Johnson
So sad
Veronica Marbury
Sending prayers up for the family Jesus comfort them..
Sabrina Haisten Gregory
Prayers for your family
Wendy Dunn Treglown
Prayers for the family. So very sorry for your loss.
Carolyn Cox
My heart hurts for this family. God bless them! My prayers are being sent for them!
Dianne Vick
SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS!!
Katrina Hays
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Ermerlier Kertrert
Regardless of your stance on LGBT+ issues, the loss of a young life is still a tragedy. Your comment is in poor taste. Show some respect.
Kalai Kennedy-Lynam
It’s so sad that parents don’t teach their children to not be so superficial, cruel and think they are better than the child next to them-especially over things as dumb as clothing or hairstyles. Every snotty little brat bully should be caught, expelled and sent to Anti-Bullying/a dose of humility camps. There’s way too much allowance for kids to pick on those who aren’t in their little groups or who don’t dress like sheep following the herd.
Kathy Hedden
Many prayers going up to the family, friends and anyone touched by this sweet soul.
Andrea Tillery- Franzer
Beautiful tribute. Prayers being sent.
Angel Taylor Hays
This is a grieving family that just lost a 14 year old due to suicide and thats what you comment on? This isn’t the appropriate place to discuss your opinion.
Jake Vetters
You are without doubt the ill one here Mr.Coleman.
Marvin Whiteley
Marvin Whiteley
Toni Harrison Atkins
These are the kind of people that raise the bullies, under the guise of moral superiority.
Kathryn Smith
Love and peace for this family.
Amanda Dobbs
Zack Gray
Michelle Lee Kennedy Barton
Praying for the family and friends.
Michelle Lee Kennedy Barton
Agreed.
Nicole Carlisle
Your morals say it’s ok to leave a rude and hateful comment on the family tribute for a teenager who has just died? You should seek help for the mental illness that made you think that’s ok!
Richard Norton
I have such respect for this family’s willingness to be open. May they receive peace and comfort. May this cause people to THINK before they speak.
Ann Brown
So sad praying for the Griffin family.
Linda Hickey
Praying for this family
Melanie Lucas Nolan
Prayers for the family .
Rebecca Goodson
Praying for comfort and peace for this family.
Lisa Clifton Temple
Prayers and peace for this family
Lynn Stadler
Prayers for Her family
Ami Goodnough
Grace and peace to all who are missing Jay….and to those whose lives he touched
Matt Coleman
Calm down folks ! This is my opinion I’m not attacking anyone on here including the family .if y’all don’t like what I post don’t read it ,or simple move on .god bless you all
Donna Turner Shaw McGuffie
So very sad
Matt Coleman
I see there is five of y’all that thought it was good morals to attack me for an opposing opinion ! That’s the way to teach our kids to live great job
Tonya Hardin Yarchak
I understand you have your opinion but please educate yourself before forming said opinion. Morals and mental illness have absolutely nothing to do with one another.
Kimberly Dilmore McCay
Prayers
Tammy Barnes Howell
Praying for comfort , peace and the Holy Spirits presence with this family.
Sondra Martin
Prayers for the family. May the life of your child inspire others to be kinder and to seek to understand, not judge.
Sherry Chamblee
Sending my condolences and love to the family.
Dawn Staub
What a wonderful tribute!! Thoughts and prayers to his family & friends!
Mandy Page
He sounded like a very intelligent child. My heart hurts for this family. I couldn’t imagine the pain they are going through. People shouldn’t judge others and accept all. My children are raised to be kind to all and to never go along or not speak up if they witness bullying. It is never ok. God made us all different for a reason. Praying for peace and comfort for the family and friends.
Judy Marie Cutcliffe
My prayers for her family and friends
Allyson Anderson
Beautiful tribute. Prayers for his friend.
Kay Goodman Keith
Praying for my sweet cousin over this terrible loss and her children and grandchildren!
Allyson Anderson
*Friends & family…
Karmen Morton Mitchell
So very sad. Middle school is such a horrible time of life, especially for those that are different in any way. Beautifully written obit. My heart goes out to this family. This child us same age as my own son. I can’t imagine. Prayers.
Maggie Plaster Shoemaker
So sad!
Bettye Manning
Praying for Jane and her family.
Chris Berry
No disrespect but it’s he
Bridget Willis Tate
Tragic. A terrible loss. May the family find some peace.
Chris Berry
*he
Brenda Walker
Very sad!
Kathy Sills
Praying for comfort
Nikaa Jordan
You mean Jay and his family,
I’m sure.
Nikaa Jordan
*his family. ❤️
Janice Hearn Grady
I can’t stop thinking about this family. I hurt for them and Jay.
Zac Abramson
I’m praying for his family and for those who do harm to people like Jay.
Chris Berry
Nikaa Jordan yes I was meaning to correct the pronoun that Bettye used 🙂
David Humphries
RIP brother. To the family, I’m extremely saddened by your loss. I know losing a child is a harrowing experience. I donated some “flowers” to the acceptance center, but if I can help in absolutely any other way please let me know. Parent to parent and Marine to Marine.
You guys are in my thoughts.
Nikaa Jordan
Chris Berry I intended to reply to Bettye, not you. 😊
Barbara Lawson
I can’t even imagine what this family is and has gone through but my heart bleeds for them. May God comfort you as only He can do.
Kayla Cargile Glassco
Prayers for the family