Carrie A. Griffith

Carrie Allnutt Griffith, 96, of Laytonsville, Maryland died on December 31, 2015 at her home.

Carried was a "farm girl" all her life. She was born on the farm of her parents' Edwin Ruthvin Allnutt and Carrie Williams Allnutt in Dawsonville, Maryland. She was a farm wife of nearly 70 years to Wiley Gaither Griffith in the Laytonsville-Gaithersburg area. Though her homes were farm based, she was a true lady who was mannerly, organized, intelligent (a lifelong learner), well dressed, an extraordinarily delicious cook (made rolls, baked and cooked from scratch all her life, she blessed her family this way; as did her mother, great aunts, and her three sisters), hard working, goal oriented, and an impeccable hostess who entertained using her finest recipes, linens, china, and table settings.

Carrie was devoted to her family - her life mission. In the early years of her marriage, after graduating from Strayer's Business College, she worked as a legal secretary. She supported her husband as secretary, bookkeeper, parts orderer, dispatcher, and even "field-hand" along with fulfilling all the traditional roles of being a wife and mother of two; all which she did with perfection. She was awarded many ribbons at the Montgomery County Fairs for her cooking skills.

She supported her daughters, Marilyn and Jean, by helping with homework, school projects, field trips, making special Halloween costumes to wear and parade at elementary school, and providing transportation and assistance with multiples of 4-H projects and school activities. She was an outstanding nurse when he family members were ill. Whenever and wherever she was needed, she was there with all her strength. Family gatherings were important to her and her family. She and her sisters, spouses, her children, nieces, nephews, great aunts, great uncles and other family members frequently enjoyed Sunday dinners at her mother's house on Sundays and especially on Christmas Day. First cousins were given the opportunity to really know each other which lead to their being in each other's weddings throughout the years, having family stories, and feeling comfortable with each other in later years. The Christmas Day celebration filled the entire afternoon into the evening, allowing for interaction through several generations and enjoyment of a very elaborate traditional Chesapeake Bay Region English Christmas dinner and dessert celebration of numerous courses; all prepared from scratch and happily consumed by all. This tradition carried on for many years. Birthdays and other celebrations were also embraced by family members for years.

Carrie was a member of the Gaithersburg Baptist Church, and active in the Laytonsville Homemakers' Club, Laytonsville Woman's Club, Laytonsville Garden Club and Laytonsville Lionesses.

Carrie was preceded in death by her husband-Wiley Gaither Griffith (age 95), her brother-Edwin Ruthvin Allnutt (age 15), and oldest sister-Anna Allnutt Rimmer (age 94).

She is survived by her two daughters, Marilyn Griffith Newman (husband Michael Lloyd Newman) of Port Royal, VA; and Barbara Jean Griffith of Damascus, MD; her two younger sisters, Jane Allnutt Price of Rockville, MD and Emily Allnutt Dudley of Boyds, MD; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephewa; and her loyal caregivers, Cate Cella and Rita Smith.

The family is receiving family and friends from 6pm to 8pm on Monday, January 4, 2016 at the Roy W. Barber Funeral Home, 21525 Laytonsville Rd., Laytonsville, MD 20882, where her funeral will be held on Tueasday, January 5, 2016 at 11am. The service will be officiated by The Rev. Catherine D. Hicks, Rector, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Port Royal, VA. Burial will follow at Goshen Cemetery near Laytonsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Laytonsville Women's Club, care of Peggy Burton Ols, 8509 Goshen View Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20882 or Operation Second Chance, 20251 Century Blvd. # 130, Germantown, MD 20874 (www.operationsecondchance.org).

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