Boyce Albert (Sonny) Griffith
Boyce Albert (Sonny) Griffith, who loved the practice of law, good wine, sports cars and baseball, passed peacefully on Thursday, April 6 at the age of 88. Boyce resided in Alum Creek from the age of three when his parents, George and Vennie moved the family there from St. Albans.
Boyce’s life started on January 26, 1929. Boyce was the 6th child born to George and Vennie. His brothers and sisters included: Dayton Griffith, Olivia Peters, Bothman Griffith, Jean Griffith, Margaret (Sissy)Griffith and Franklin Griffith.
When he was a young boy, during warm & sunny WV days, he would strip off his clothes and swim in the creek running alongside the big red barn near his home. He would proudly tell his mother, Vinnie, that he was taking a “sunset.” Thus the nickname Sonny emerged. Boyce always loved the sun. He said it gave him energy.
Another great pastime was baseball. Boy did he love baseball. Boyce was small in stature and as a young boy, he was always placed at the catcher position during after-school games. He didn’t enjoy this too much as he longed to play what he felt was a more prominent position. He would spend hours in the evening and on the weekends watching baseball during the season. He traveled to Cincinnati to watch the Reds as often as possible and in later years, he traveled to California where his daughter Joy lived with her family and enjoyed Dodger games and San Francisco Giants games. There was a family trip to New York to see the Yankees on July 4, 2009 play in their brand new stadium as well as a trip to Chicago to take in a Cubs game.
Boyce’s favorite hobby was researching and drinking great wine (& Champagne!). He poured over scores of books and magazines detailing every aspect of the grape growing process. From understanding the soil and temperature to knowing the perfect time to uncork a savored bottle, he always enjoyed the process. When Boyce made trips with family to the wine country in Northern California, the wine stewards were absolutely awestruck by how much this man from West Virginia knew about the history of wine. It was surely fun to watch and listen to!
Boyce is survived by his wife, Martha, who he met on a blind date in the summer of 1955. They had two daughters, Joy Chudacoff and Rene Griffith. Joy lives in Los Angeles California with her husband Greg and their two children, Jack (16) Jenna (14). Rene lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina with her life partner, Christi Smith and son Andrew.
‘Sonny’ graduated from Washington District High School May 28, 1947 and had a strong desire to get a college degree. His oldest brother Dayton, ultimately gave Boyce the $50 he needed to enroll in Morris Harvey College. It was there he received his undergraduate degree in 1950 with the honor of Magna Cum Laude. After receiving his under-graduate degree, Boyce achieved a life-long dream of attaining a Law Degree from West Virginia University. He was a member of the Board of Editors Law Review and received the annual faculty award for the Student of Outstanding Progress in his senior year. Boyce was also President of his Senior Law Class and graduated in 1953 at the top of his class!
That would be of no surprise to anyone who knew Boyce as a practicing Attorney. Time and time again, the word around the courthouse was, “if you are going up against Boyce Griffith on a case, you’d better be on time and over-prepared or you are guaranteed a loss!”
Directly after graduating from Law School, Boyce went immediately to serve in the Army. His mastery of the law was of great benefit to the Army as he provided much support to the legal department during his service.
Boyce began his long & successful sixty-year career as an Assistant Prosecutor in Lincoln County in the spring of 1955. In 1962, he served as general counsel to Governor William Wallace (Wally) Barron and in 1964, Governor Barron appointed Boyce to become the Chairman of the Public Service Commission. He served in that capacity until 1969. In 1969, Boyce went into private practice and from 1972-1975, he served as the Prosecuting Attorney in Lincoln County. In 1989, Boyce was tapped to be the Chairman of the Public Service Commission a second time by Governor Gaston Caperton and his service lasted until 1997. In 1997, Boyce went back into private practice in Hamlin and remained in private practice until his retirement.
What most people will remember about Boyce was his constant commitment to helping others. You would never go to a restaurant, grocery store or otherwise without running into someone who had a tribute or story about Boyce. He was recognized everywhere he went as someone that was a support to his community. Growing up in a house with Boyce as a father/husband meant knocks at the front door and phone calls at all hours of the day or night from people who sought his wise advice.
A private Graveside service will be held on Monday, April 10 at 1pm, 2017 at Forks of Coal Cemetery, Alum Creek. There will be a Celebration of Boyce’s Life on Thursday, April 13, 2017 from 4pm – 7pm at the family home. To RSVP for the Celebration of Life, please email KtLaSalla@yahoo.com
Please, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to The National Kidney Foundation http://www.kidney.org
I was saddened to hear about his passing. I will never forget the time I worked for him in the little Hamlin office. He was so good to me and I learned a lot. Boyce was a great person. My thoughts and prayers to Martha, Joy, Renee and the grandchildren.
When I first started practicing law (many years ago) my office was next door to Boyce’s in Hamlin. He was a great lawyer and a great mentor. He was so supportive to those of us just starting out in the profession. It meant a lot to me when I was new to West Virginia, and to the practice of law (and when woman lawyers and legal services were new to Lincoln County.) I learned a great deal about being a lawyer from Boyce, and about WV politics, lessons that served me well.
My condolences to his family and former colleagues.
Thank you for your service to our country Mr. Griffith!
When I first started out court reporting Boyce was so very kind and helpful. He was a true gentleman and respected attorney.
Rest In Peace ! My condolences to the family ! As general counsel and board member with me at the old
First National Bank of West Hamlin he was a ” real standby “. He was always supportive and someone you could really count on – – – not only as a professional, but a real friend.
May he rest in peace. My brother, Jack Zegeer, passed too early in life. He was a lifelong friend of Sonny Griffith, having graduated from the WVU law school together. They both practiced law in Charleston. Jack had the utmost respect for Sonny and spoke highly of him often. My brother introduced me to Sonny when I returned to Charleston in 1970. Whenever I would meet him casually, he would always have a warm smile.
Thank you Moses for your kind words about my Father. Yes, he was a great man.