Chester

Family and friends are celebrating the life and mourning the loss this week of the honorable Barbara Usher Griffin, age 76, formerly of Davis Drive in Chester. She passed on Friday December, 5th 2014. Graveside services will be conducted by Reverends Al Ward and Rick Wheeler, 2p.m. Monday at Chester Memorial Gardens.

She worked for Chester County Law Enforcement Center for twenty seven years where she was the secretary in the magistrate court. She was later appointed Magistrate Judge by Governor David Beasley, making her the first female Magistrate Judge in the county. She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Before her health declined she was an active member of the Women In the Church (WIC) and enjoyed working in her yard and gardening. She was one of the "neighborhood moms" loved so much by her girls and their friends. It wasn't uncommon for her to have her girls' friends stay for weeks on end during the summer months. Even though she was a tough judge, she had a heart of gold. She loved her pets, dogs and cats and her yard work. She truly had a green thumb. Her passion was her flowers and garden. She also loved cooking. She was quite the chef.

Barbara was born in Monroe, NC to the late Grady B. and Eunice Williams Usher. Barbara graduated from Chester High School in 1957 where she was a member of The National Honor Society and The Future Business Leaders of America. She received numerous awards for her school government leadership achievements.

She is survived by two daughters, Kristie Strickland and her husband John, Gina Lynn Griffin (James Thompson), all of Chester; and several nieces; special sister-in-law, Jean Usher of Rock Hill. Mrs. Griffin was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie A. Griffin; one daughter, Barbara Antoinette "Toni" Griffin; one sister, Bonnie Usher Roberts; one brother, Charles Richard Usher; a "brother in spirit", T.J. Ross.