Archives for December 2020

It is with great sadness to share that on December 29, 2020, we said goodbye to our mother, grandmother and devoted friend, DORIS MAYS GRIFFIN.

Doris was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1942, in Savannah, Georgia, and sadly, on December 29, 2020, passed away too soon, leaving a huge hole in the hearts of so many fortunate enough to have known her. 

Doris is survived and will be missed deeply by her three children, Randall Griffin, Karrie Griffin Henry, and James Griffin, and her grandchildren. Through the years, Doris also took great pleasure in “raising” many of Karrie’s, Randall ’s and James’ childhood friends at her beautiful property and home on Highway 17.  She taught them many life lessons, and shared with them the same unconditional love, as if they were her own.  Her personality was larger than life itself, and memories of her smile, laugh and stories will live on in the hearts of so many, including her friends from the Wilmington Island Post Office, where she served devotedly for many years.  DORIS LOVED HARD, LIVED WELL AND NEVER MET A STRANGER !! 
 
Visitation will be Monday January 4th at 10am at Families First Funeral Care on Dean Forest Road. Service to follow at 11 . There will be a graveside burial after the service at Hillcrest Abbey West on Dean Forest Road.

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Daniel P. Barbo passed away peacefully on December 12th, 2020 in Savannah, GA after a long and courageous battle against Parkinson’s disease. He turned 88 three days prior to his death.

Dan is survived by his wife and best friend of 66 years, Anna. He is also survived by his 3 sons, John (m: Alexandra), Dan Jr. (m: Patrice) and Michael and his five terrific grandchildren, Matthew (m: Christine), Stefanie, Jennifer, Jessica and Daniel Phillip III, whom he adored. They will miss him terribly. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Rosemary. His father Rosario, mother, Bridget and brother, Leonard all pre-deceased him.

Dan, it was said, was born with the furniture business in his blood and for over 50 years was the driving force across several furniture endeavors. In 1955, upon his honorable discharge from the US Air Force, Dan joined his father who founded the Barbo’s Fine Furniture business with stores in Stoneham and Dedham, MA. There is nary a Bostonian who can forget the Barbo Furniture ad jingle that Dan created, “Barbo’s, Barbo’s, furniture you can live with – happily ever after.”.

Dan became president of the John M. Smyth furniture chain in Chicago in 1965. He led their efforts for over 15 years. While there, he saw an emerging trend of “ready-made furniture” and launched the very successful Homemaker’s furniture chain in the Chicagoland area with 7 locations.

But Boston, his birthplace, and where he met Anna while they both attended Boston University, beckoned him back. He returned to Boston in 1984 and reopened the Barbo Furniture business with stores in Burlington and Cambridge.

Dan had several hobbies and interests ranging from bocci and golf to being an arbiter in non-civil suits. His most fulfilling interest was boating. He often told stories of summer times during his adolescent years boating around Rockport with friends and family. That love of boating continued when he and Anna decided to retire to the Landings in Savannah, GA in 1998. There he took great pride in knowing how to navigate the marshy waterways of the Inter-coastal to places like Hilton Head and beyond. Every trip was filled with interesting information that Dan provided on the ecosystem of the Inter-coastal waterway. These excursions were always filled with laughter and memories that would last a lifetime. Any social interaction that Dan and Anna hosted would not be complete without his creative and fun games designed to engage one and all. Dan loved creating games and contests on even the silliest of premises. It was his endearing power of connecting with others that will be much missed. In retirement, Dan shared his love of his country and the Air Force service as a docent at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA.

Dan’s life was dedicated to his family whom he supported in countless ways. He cared deeply about his friends and those that worked for him over the years. He was a visionary when beginning in the 1960’s, he boldly promoted women into managerial ranks while president of the John M. Smyth business. His sons learned invaluable lessons growing up over the dinner table about leadership and management. He was a source of immense experience and they called upon his counsel many times during their business careers.

Dan’s quick and wonderful sense of humor will be remembered fondly by all that knew him. The many memories of Dan will keep the light of kindness and family focus fresh for each of them going forward in the days and years to come.

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Harold Alfred McClung went home to our Lord on December 17, 2020, surrounded by his loving family.

Harold was born in Charleston, West Virginia on August 6, 1931, to father Cecil McClung and mother, Pina McClung. He was affectionately known as “Goose” due to his love of basketball and his prowess on the court. The 1949 St. Albans High School graduate received a Bachelor’s Degree from the Virginia Military Institute. While at VMI, he met the love of his life, Barbara Thomas, and the two were married in 1954 while he was serving in The United States Air Force. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and during his service, he was an Air Traffic Controller and a Basketball Coach. Always possessing a keen sense of business, after serving our country, he attended New York University where he earned a Master of Science in Business in 1957 and membership in the esteemed Eta Mu Phi Academic Fraternity. His impressive career would include President of McClung & Morgan Stores for over thirty years, Vice President of McClung & Pettus Reality Company, and President of McClung’s of St. Albans. In his later years, he worked as a merchandising consultant with Hilco Merchant Resources and Buxbaum Group.

Harold had a strong sense of community and was active with the Rotary Club In both West Virginia and Savannah and served as District Governor of District 755 for Rotary International. He was Chairman of the Advisory Council for West Virginia State University and Director of First National Bank, South Charleston West Virginia. His desire to help those less fortunate had him spending his golden years heading up the Hope for the Homeless golf tournament, an event he created to help the homeless population in Savannah.

Of all of his accomplishments, he was the proudest of his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Barbara, daughter Kelley McClung, grandchildren Nick Samons, Maggie (Steve) Ward, Michael McClung, Sophie Samons, Tyler McClung, great-grandchildren Hagan Johnson, Elliott Samons, Lochlann Maclain, and Julian Ward. He is preceded in death by his parents, his only son, Douglas Harold McClung, and his granddaughter Suzanne Samons.

Harold was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of St. Albans West Virginia and most recently attended the First Baptist Church of the Islands in Savannah, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, Mr. McClung has requested donations to be made to the Homeless Community of St. Joseph. Please make donations out to Episcopal Diocese of Georgia with a memo for “Community of St. Joseph” and mail checks to 18 E. 34th Street, Savannah GA 31404 or give by text. Text “EDOG” to 73256 (Select “St. Joseph Community” from the link).

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