We were sad to learn of the death of Reverend Jean Griffiths on 4th February. Jean, pictured above, was a persuasive ambassador and volunteer for Welcare in Greenwich and part of the ‘Welcare family’ for over twenty-five years, until recently serving as chair of our supporter group, Friends of Welcare in Greenwich. Jean bought great wisdom and energy to meetings and was one of our most loyal and tenacious fundraisers. Jean and Peter generously opened their garden for coffee (which usually extended to lunch) raising well over £8000 over the years. Jean was a prison chaplain, a vocation she loved and one that provided many interesting experiences. She was often invited to speak to local groups which always resulted in a generous donation to support our work. Similarly, if Jean was invited to preach, she always requested a donation to Welcare.
Jean will be missed by all of us at Welcare and we are moved that her husband Peter and children Michael and Lizzie have chosen to continue to honour her memory by setting up a JustGiving page and requesting donations towards our work in place of flowers.
Anna Khan, our CEO, attended Jean’s funeral on the 7th April via Zoom due to coronavirus restrictions. “Bishop Christopher led a moving and dignified service marking the life of a hugely respected and very active member of the local community. During the service, I learned so much about Jean’s early life including that she was at school with a fellow friend of Welcare, Joan Lake, and she had an early career in teaching. Jean was one of the first women ordained to the ministry in the Church of England and was a faithful priest in southeast London and also a devoted prison chaplain.”
Welcare has been inundated with donations in Jean’s memory over the past few months. “All members of the Griffiths family united in requesting donations towards our work in the Greenwich area in memory of Jean,” says Anna. “We have been overwhelmed with gifts directly and via the Just Giving site, having received just over £3000 to support our work in the Greenwich area by the beginning of June.”
Many thanks to all those who have donated.
