Shields Griggs

Memorial services for Shields Lynn Griggs, 76 of Cookeville, were held Monday, March 29 at 11 AM at Pleasant Grove Fellowship, 14150 Nashville Highway, Buffalo Valley, TN. The family received friends Monday after 9 AM until service time at the church. Due to COVID-19, social distancing measures were in place. Mr. Griggs died Friday, March 19, 2021 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born June 3, 1944 in Lewisburg, TN to the late Pink Griggs, Sr. and Mary Magdalene Parsons Griggs. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Janella Lovell and Lovelace Griggs; brothers Pink Griggs, Jr., Raymond Griggs, Clarence "Otto" Griggs and Hudson Griggs. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Sharon Leftwich Griggs of Cookeville; daughters Amber Griggs and Dr. Tiffanie Wright of Cookeville; son Rick Griggs of Sparta; grandchildren Samuel Alan Harness, Katelin Joyce Harness and Sterling Shields Hatch of Cookeville; great-grandson Bentley Luke Whittenburg of Cookeville; sisters Marzee Thomas, Sarah Brown, Shirley “LaVert” Wilson and Dimple H. Prentice; brother Johnny Griggs; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews and in-laws. Shields attended Vanderbilt University where he majored in accounting. He was a retired sales representative with Neely Harwell Company in Nashville and later owned his own company, S. L. G. Wholesale here in Cookeville. After his second retirement, he worked for Towne & Country Florist doing what he loved the most . . . delivering flowers and making people happy. He was a character, to say the least. He loved telling jokes, stories and making people laugh. He also loved picking on all the kids, and aggravating them was his forte. He was loved by all who came into contact with him. He especially loved telling the grandkids to “come here and let me hit you on the head!” to which they would hold their heads over for him to bump them with a smile and say, “Now we got that over with.” He enjoyed spending time with them and watching them in their various sports. He was their BIGGEST fan! Shields was a talented musician and played in his own band, "Sounds of the South" for many years. He was also a song writer having his song, Women and Weather, hit the Bright Stars Country #4 Hit Pick in 1971. He later played with the gospel group, "Redeemed" which played at many churches in the Upper Cumberland, until his health began to fail. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Fellowship where he taught Bible Study for many years. He was an avid reader of the Bible and studied the life and times surrounding Jesus through many historical books. He also read Mark Twain novels and encyclopedias for FUN. He served on the Putnam County Fair Board for many years where he enjoyed his time bringing back the “country” to the county fair. There was not an event going on he was not present for. He loved the fair, his community and his beloved snow cone booth by the arena. He was loved by all and will be greatly missed at the fair! Honorary Pallbearers were nephews Tracy Griggs, Michael Griggs, Jeffrey Griggs, Steven Lynn Thomas, Matthew Griggs and James Mack Thomas; close friends Bobby Beechboard and Brian Beechboard; special grandsons Sam Harness and Sterling Hatch; and special great-grandson Bentley Whittenburg. Memorial donations to Pleasant Grove Fellowship can be made c/o Gail Myers, 1950 Leftwich Ridge Road, Baxter, TN 38544. Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements (931) 858-2134. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.