J. Maxwell Griffin

JOSEPH MAXWELL GRIFFIN was the son of George D. and Florence Griffin, was known locally as J. Maxwell or simply as Maxwell Griffin. He was born March 3, 1906 in North Carolina. His father, a Baptist minister, had brought the family to Camden by 1930, when the census shows them living at 873 Chelton Avenue, in the Centerville section of Camden. When the census was taken, both J. Maxwell and his older brother G. Raymond Griffin were working as hotel bellhops. The family later moved to 827 Ferry Avenue, where they appear in the 1936 Bell Telephone Directory.

By 1947 J. Maxwell Griffin was living at 960 Ferry Avenue, the corner of Ferry Avenue and Miller Street, opposite the Clement T. Branch Village public housing project. At that time he was operating a laundry at that location. He still resided at that address as late as 1959, but had moved to 1582 South 9th Street by 1970.

J. Maxwell Griffin was active in Camden politics in the 1950s. He followed the path other African-American civic leaders such as Dr. Clement T. Branch by serving on Camden’s Camden Board of Education during the 1950s.

J. Maxwell Griffin lived his days out on 10th Street in Centerville. He passed away on July 24, 2000.

The Club Esquire, a Negro civic organization, with headquarters at 907 Kaighn avenue, will hold a cabaret party Monday night in Eagles Hall, 415 Broadway.

Funds will be used to aid Negro students obtain college educations. J. Maxwell Griffin is president of the organization.

GRIFFIN

J. Maxwell, age 94, of Camden, on 7/24/00. He is survived by his granddaughter, Breda Spratley; great-grandchildren Danielle Montague, Jeremy and Jerrett Spratley; great-great-grandchild Dae’chara Abel-Spratley; son in-law Edward G. Williams; grandson in-law Jerome Spratley and a host of other relatives and friends. Services will be held Sat. 11AM at Tenth St. Bapt. Church, 1860 S. 10th St., Camden where friends may call after 9AM. Interment Evergreen Cemetery.