Paul (Floyd Paul) Griffith's Obituary
Paul (Floyd Paul) Griffith, 90, of Northern Virginia, formerly of St. Mary’s County, passed away on October 16, 2025, at INOVA Alexandria Hospital, with his wife, Elena, by his side holding his hand. He was a wonderful man, a cherished husband, a soulmate, and his presence will always be deeply missed.
Paul was born on May 11, 1935, in Jenkins, KY, to the late Irvin E. Griffith, Sr., and Rebecca A. Griffith (nee Moorfield). He was the fifth of eight children. Growing up in a large family during the Great Depression had significant challenges. Paul recalled that his parents worked extremely hard to provide for their large family. His dad was a coalminer at the Consolidation Coal Company in Jenkins, KY, and was paid for his hard labor in “scrip” tokens redeemable only at the company store after the company deducted the housing rent, utilities and even basic work supplies. Many families found themselves in a cycle of debt where the entire paycheck was consumed by scrip advances and deductions, a situation famously described as “owing your soul to the company store”. Paul’s mom was a busy stay-home mother taking care of children, house, cooking and everything else. Shoes were passed from older to younger children and not worn except to school and church. As food was scarce, Paul’s dad kept beehives and collected the honey. Sometimes he would take Paul to the hives and Paul would watch him work around the bees. Paul’s dad also taught Paul to hunt squirrels and birds and to fly fish in the creek, all - to put food on the family’s table. Paul especially liked fly fishing, a pursuit and memories that he treasured throughout his life. In spite of hardships, Paul always recalled the sheer happiness of those times, beautiful mountains and many early childhood friendships.
When Paul was six, his dad found a better job as a painter in Southern Maryland, and moved the family to a temporary barn house in Abell Creek Ln, Leonardtown, MD (located right behind Our Lady’s Church at Medley’s Neck), and several years later to their first own single family house on Princeton Rd, Lexington Park, MD. To help his family, young Paul delivered newspapers throughout the neighborhood, first on foot, then aboard a scooter of his own ingenious making, and finally atop a used bicycle, purchased by his elder brother, Douglas, while on Army leave. Paul regarded his used bicycle as a genuine prize and remembered it for the rest of his life.
The move transformed the family’s life and secured a better future for Paul. While in Great Mills High School, Paul truly blossomed, becoming not only a good student and the president of Junior Class Officers but also a star athlete in basketball and baseball, including the highest scoring basketball player of the year and the teams’ captain. Beyond his accolades, Paul grew into a strong, kind and down-to-earth young man loved by all – a sentiment echoed in the dozens of heartfelt, handwritten tributes filling every page of his yearbook from peers and staff alike.
Following graduation, and with no opportunity for university at the time, Paul was drafted into the US Air Force, serving for four years until his honorable discharge. Paul continued serving his country in public safety working at the Emergency Control Center in Leonardtown and training at the State Police Academy in Pikesville, MD. Upon graduation, he began his career as a State Trooper and was quickly promoted to a County Sheriff’s Deputy with St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department in Leonardtown, often speaking with deep affection of the County and its people.
Paul’s journey is a testament to grit, starting from scratch and building his own construction company and, ultimately, becoming an international construction and business expert. His work spanned the globe, taking him across oceans. As a self-taught, lifelong learner, Paul replaced a traditional university education with a deep, personal study of history, literature, art and events shaping our world.
Though life brought significant setbacks, including health challenge and financial reversals that forced him to start over, Paul remained exceptionally strong, humble, and kind, choosing always to focus on his blessings. For the last 30 years, he was happily married to his best friend and love of his life, Elena. They cherished their time together, taking many road trips across the country. Paul always wanted to return to his beloved St. Mary’s, where he would fondly reminisce about the beauty of the 1950s-‘70s – the endless crop fields and the sparkling waters, and the warmth of the people who made that era so memorable.
Paul lived an extraordinary life, never shrinking from the challenges faced by his country or his fellow man. To the very end, he remained remarkably strong, profoundly kind and never complained, a rare, enduring breed of man. His story mirrors the arc of his era – a life worthy of both book and film. Deeply loved, he will be missed forever. The standard he set for those he leaves behind remains an enduring inspiration, perhaps impossible to equal but forever worth striving toward. He lived life to the fullest, loved deeply, and left his world better than he found it.
The Service and Burial were private, as he was laid to rest at Trinity Memorial Gardens close to his parents. Condolences may be left https://www.trinitymemorialgardens.com and at https://www.brinsfieldsfuneral.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Paul?
What’s a lesson you learned from Paul?
Share a story where Paul's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Paul you’ll never forget.
How did Paul make you smile?
