Mary Ellen Griffin (Thurman)

Mary Ellen Griffin (Thurman), 68, of Wilson passed away Sunday, October 20, 2024. The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. 

 If you knew our mama there’s only one thing she loves as much as her kids and grandchildren, and that was COFFEE! Truly, one would think it ran through her blood and DNA. Mary was a warrior, I remember her being a maintenance lady over a whole apartment complex, she was an electrician, had her own cleaning business, and she ran her own bait and tackle store. She loved camping and the outdoors, but still made sure to have a fan if not a little tv for nighttime. Mary loved to cook and can all sorts of things. She was a die-hard Redskins fan, she loved her animals, from kittens, dogs and guinea pigs. Mary loved playing cards, singing, and never went no where she couldn’t make a friend or leave her mark. So as our mama would say, see ya later, never goodbye, because that means we wouldn’t see each other. Never would she say those words, so see ya later Mama!

 Mary is survived by her son, Mike Barberio and Kelly Warholic; daughter, Mary Barberio and Philip Melvin; grandchildren, Savannah “Bookie” Barberio, Ashlee Proctor, Nathaniel Barberio, Michael Barberio, Marley “MarBug” Barberio, Giovanni Barberio-Melvin, Elijah Barberio-Melvin; great-grandchildren, Jamal Crumel and Amari Crumel; sisters, Alice Ring, Donna Adkins, and Penny Jenkins and husband, Eddie, and her brothers, James Thurman, Jeffery Thurman and wife, Donna, and Jody Thurman and wife, Theresa.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lena Thurman; sister, Loria Thurman Sluder, and brother, Robert Simmons, Sr.

 Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.