Dr. Robert Charles Griffith, 78, of Hattiesburg, MS, died August 31, 2017, from complications related to pancreatic cancer. Under hospice care for five months prior to his death, Charles died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family.

Charles leaves behind his three children, Charles Griffith and his husband, David, Cameron Griffith and his wife, Deidre and Ann Marie Griffith and her fiancé, Kevin; his three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Stuart and Parsons; two cousins whom he regarded as siblings, Carol Carter, of San Antonio, TX, and Randall Beauclair, of Shreveport, LA; and many other loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta Secrist Griffith, and his parents, Charles Parsons Griffith and Madelon Jenkins Griffith.

Charles was born in Shreveport, LA, in 1939. He graduated Byrd High School and continued on to receive a degree from Centenary College. Charles then completed his medical doctorate at Louisiana State University at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He finished an internship and residency in internal medicine at Confederate Memorial Hospital in Shreveport, followed by a fellowship in asthma and allergy at The University of Virginia.

Charles was married to Loretta Secrist in 1969. They met at UVA where she was head nurse at University Hospital emergency department during the time of his fellowship. They were married for 35 years.

Charles was an allergist with Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport for 40 years. He maintained a thriving solo practice during those decades treating thousands of patients for whom he had the deepest affection. Though medicine was his calling, he was an avid outdoorsman who spent most of his free time hunting and fishing at his beloved family camp on Lake Bistineau and his Arkansas property, Riverpoint Plantation.

He was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed. A devout Christian, he was unafraid of death and looked forward to the reunion with his family and the company of his Lord.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider making donations to the UVA School of Nursing towards the Loretta Secrist Griffith Award in Nursing (#14700), UVA School of Nursing Alumni & Development Office, PO Box 801015, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1015.