Jay Griffin

Jay (Jane Marie) Griffin, a student at Hewitt Trussville Middle School, took his own life on Thursday morning, May 25th 2017.

Jay is survived by his parents, Matt and Erin Georgia; his sisters, Julia and Anna Georgia; his maternal grandmother, Jane Griffin; his paternal grandparents, Greg and Cathy Georgia; and predeceased by his maternal grandfather Monty Griffin.

Jay was born at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, in Jacksonville, NC on November 26th, 2003 to United States Marine Corps Corporal Erin Georgia. Jay has extended paternal family, Jimmie Colon and his mother Carmen Reyes, who currently reside in Orlando,Florida. Jay lived in North Carolina, California, Georgia, and finally Trussville, Alabama during his 13 years of life.

Jay was first and foremost a beautiful spirit. From Jay's scouting years in American Heritage Girls, to experimenting in youth lacrosse, and to playing clarinet in the middle school band, Jay grew more confident in discovering his true identity as Jay Griffin. From that personal moment of self-discovery to his more public declarations of identity, Jay was an advocate for the LBGTQ community. Between publicly educating friends and family on proper pronoun use, and privately struggling with being called by his birth name and gender, Jay continued searching for the ever-elusive balance of social acceptance and personal validation.

It is because of his bright spirit and personal struggles that many lives have been changed and many more questions will be pondered. Unprompted, Jay would tell them to challenge what they think they know and to discuss all perspectives.

In lieu of flowers, Jay's parents ask that donations be made to the Magic City Acceptance Center in Birmingham AL, a safe supportive, and affirming space for LBGTQ youth, young adults and their allies.

Services for Jay Griffin are scheduled for Tuesday, May 30th at First United Methodist in Trussville, AL. Family visitation starts at 3pm, and then opens to the public at 4pm. The funeral service will begin at 5pm, with light refreshments and reception immediately following.

ary will appear on al.com and Birmingham News.