Carolyn J. Griffith Means (Carley Jo), 87, a retired Johns Hopkins Hospital nurse, and former resident of South Charleston, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 6, 2026 with her family by her side.
Known as a strong, happy individual with many skills and passions, Carley Jo was born on August 28, 1939, in Charleston, WV. She attended Alum Creek Elementary, Washington District High School, Anne Arundel Community College, and the University of Maryland at Baltimore where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Carley Jo was successful in three different career paths. She worked as a secretary at Washington District High School and later for the Westinghouse Corporation. She was a successful hair stylist for Hoschild Kohn department Store in Baltimore and as an independent stylist. During her career at Johns Hopkins Hospital, she worked as a nurse and assisted in research conducted by Dr. Ed Bernacki throughout the Johns Hopkins System. One notable project that she worked on was determining the value of Thermo Care Heat Therapy products in treating workplace injuries. Her final position as a nurse was as the Manager of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Occupational Injury Department. She organized and directed a large clinic that provided services to over 40,000 Johns Hopkins Employees worldwide.
Carley Jo had many hobbies and interests, including a major interest in quilting. For over a dozen years, she and her sisters faithfully participated in the annual West Virginia “quilt hops”. Carley Jo also loved sports and group activities. In high school, it was 4-H club at Jackson’s Mill, and in high school it was basketball. In Severna Park, MD, she loved to attend her son Merlin’s football and baseball games. As a longtime fan of the Baltimore Ravens, her name is listed on the monument outside Johnny Unitas Stadium, which honors those who fought to bring football back to the city after the Colts were stolen out of town in 1984. She was a fierce Ravens fan who loved to attend games and witnessed some of the best games in team history, including the road to Super Bowls 35 and 47.
Carley Jo was most proud of the successes of her immediate family. She was very proud of her son’s successful career as a high school history teacher and coach in football, lacrosse, wrestling, and baseball; her grandson’s career in law enforcement in MD; her granddaughter’s career as a Nurse at UMD Shock Trauma and beyond; and her daughter-in-law’s career as a senior vice-president with M&T Bank Realty Capital Corporation and later with the Department of Defense.
Carley Jo was preceded in death by her parents, J.K. (Kenner) and Bremen Wood Griffith; six sisters: Betty Riling (Bob), Jewell Haddad (Phil), Fay Yerrid, Phyllis Griffith, Patty Dimock (Don), Jeannette Reick (Bob); two brothers: Kenny Griffith (Ann), and Douglas MacArthur Griffith; and nieces and nephews, Susan Riling, Cindy Dimock, Jimmy Griffith, Kevin Griffith, and Leslie (Haddad) Meadows.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dale Means of Severna Park, MD; her brother Jack Griffith of Kanawha County; her son Merlin Means (Sherri) of Pasadena, MD; two grandchildren: Nicholas (Dawn) Means of Pasadena, MD; Bremen (Morgan) Waterman of Seattle, WA; two great-grandchildren: Arsenios Elijah Waterman of Seattle, WA; Marshall Merlin Means of Pasadena, MD. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews: Richard Riling (OH), Katrina Riling (Charleston, WV), Steven Yerrid (FL), Michael Griffith (MS), Julie Ann Boehman (LA), Janet Lynn Claus (TX), David Haddad (TN), Susan Dimock (MA), Sandra Tippins (WI), Matt Dimock (MA), Amy Lutz (FL), Jason Griffith (WV), and Cody Lilly (NC).
Of the 50+ grandchildren of Albert Griffith (1856-1933) of Olcott WV, Carley Jo was one of the last two surviving grandchildren, with Jack Griffith remaining.
Service will be 2:00pm, Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek. Burial will follow at Means Family Cemetery, Alum Creek. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.