Beatrice Conkling Clarke Griffith, 85, peacefully passed away Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at her home in Cockeysville, MD surrounded by her family. She is survived by her son Frederick Clarke Griffith (Sam Cagnina) of New York, NY; daughter, Lydia Conkling Griffith of Richmond, VA; son, Benjamin Gates Griffith (Beata) of Harrisburg, PA; sister, Cynthia Clough (John); sister, Linda Kneeland (Chase); sister, Olivia Smoot; granddaughter, Siena Singh; granddaughter, Beatrice May Connell (Shane); grandson, Sumit Singh; grandson, Simon Frederick Griffith.

Bea grew up in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Baltimore and spent her early years on Dixon Hill where she had fond memories of being surrounded by other families and relatives. She was a graduate of Eastern High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington College where she played on the varsity tennis and badminton teams. Bea had a love for the beach and spent treasured times throughout her life at a family home in Dewey Beach, DE and residences in Rehoboth Beach, DE. 

She married Frederick N. Griffith in 1959 and they spent the first 20 years of their marriage in the dynamic neighborhood of Bolton Hill in Baltimore City which Bea remembered as one of the happiest times of her life. Their three children, Clarke, Lydia, and Ben were raised there. In the early 80s the Griffiths moved to Easton, MD where they lived for the next 12 years in an historic home on the Miles River. They returned to the Baltimore area and lived in Baltimore County for the rest of their lives. Their last residence was at Broadmead where they quickly developed a strong sense of community and belonging. 

Bea was an artist, creator, cook, and family historian. Knitting, photography, and gardening were just some of her skills. She perfected a technique using a scanner to produce dramatic and exquisite photographs of fresh flowers; she knit sweaters, hats, mufflers, scarves, and more for her family and friends; she designed and built a doll house for her daughter; she was a member of several garden clubs and created beautiful plantings and arrangements in every home she lived in; she prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts for 30+ family members; she thoroughly researched and documented her family ancestry back centuries, writing articles and stories to share with her family.

Gracious and kind, Bea was an excellent listener and people felt seen when they were with her. She travelled the world with her husband, supporting him in his work to restore sight to the blind as the CEO of Tissue Banks International. The relationships Bea built during these visits with people from countries of all sizes, economies and governments played a significant role in the organization’s success in achieving its global mission.

Most of all, Bea was a loving mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She was loyal, trusting, supportive, adventurous and had a wonderful sense of humor. She was blessed with good health, mobility, stamina, and mental sharpness until the last few days of her life. She will be interred along with her husband in a columbarium at the Brown Memorial Church in Bolton Hill.

Donations can be made by visiting https://goshenfarm.org/. Locate the “Donate Now” button at the bottom of the page. Designate in memory of “Beatrice C. Griffith” on the form.