Florence Griffith Joyner was a gift to the track and field world. Multiple records, gripping presence, and a personality to reminisce; all and more dictated the champion’s life gloriously for decades to remember. But sadly today, years after the legend took her final breath, Florence Griffith, who birthed the star left the world to join her daughter in the world beyond.

Florence Griffith, mother to the track and field legend was much a figure behind the scenes throughout her life. A mother to 11 children, Griffith played an integral role in each of their lives, instilling values of importance. This significant presence of Griffith shines through today as her granddaughter, Mary Ruth Joyner pens out a heartfelt note on her demise.

Florence Griffith, the mother receives a warming note

On the 19th of January, Florence Griffith bid the world her goodbyes after a grueling battle with cancer. “With continued tears from my eyes and a hurting heart… I write these words. My beautiful, strong, and loving grandmother Florence gained wings and a key to heaven today,” granddaughter Mary writes on Instagram. Mary further revealed that the two’s bonding was unique and helped frame some of the most beautiful memories. “With the senses of home cooked meals and sounds of her pages in the bible or her crossword puzzles. She taught me so much,” the further caption reads.

“I love you Grandma, forever and always,” are Mary’s last words for her grandmother. And as great a grandmother Florence Griffith proved for Mary, she remained equally staunch in her humbleness and beliefs in her daughter’s journey to the pinnacle.

A mother’s POV of the legend

In one of the early interviews after the track star’s demise, Florence Griffith got around to talk about her daughter’s life through her eyes. The beginning of the story marks with Griffith revealing that, in a household of 11 children, all were obliged to weekly wrongdoing confessions and bible verse memorization. Griffith states that is how she managed to keep the order in the large family. But when they turned 18 or Griffith-Joyner more specifically, she said, “It is the first day of the rest of your life. You have to make your own decision.”

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The remark arrived after Griffith-Joyner confronted about track for the first time by Bob Kersee. Whatever decision she made, Griffith stuck by her. Olympics or the tryouts in Eugene, she was equally elated for her daughter’s achievements.  “You’re still a winner because to think that you went out there,” were Florence Griffith’s words after her daughter placed fourth in Eugene. And just like that, through wins, loss, and allegations, the mother always believed in her daughter.

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