Veneissa Jacqueline Griffith

Veneissa Jacqueline Griffith, 52, of Durham, NC, died on June 12, 2020, while at in-home hospice, after a difficult battle with cancer. She was born in Raleigh, NC, on March 11, 1968, daughter of Bill Haynes and the late Valerie Haynes. Veneissa grew up in Maryland and went to school within the Charles County Public Schools system. After graduating high school, she eventually attended Shaw University and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in psychology. She went on to obtain her MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute (Strayer University) while working full-time at Siemens Medical Solutions – where she worked for the last 10 years. She loved to volunteer, travel, and experience different cultures. While living in Chicago she volunteered with Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (Chicago Chapter) and while in Durham she volunteered her time at the Durham Literacy Council. During her travels she spent time in the Caribbean, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Dubai, and Morocco. She also travelled extensively in the U.S. – visiting all but a few of the 50 states. Veneissa loved to unwind by hiking, biking, or by watching the game of baseball. She grew to love the Chicago Cubs while living in Chicago, and after moving back to North Carolina that love transferred over to the Durham Bulls. She attended several games every summer. She also loved to attend Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles games when visiting her brother in Maryland. Her mother, Valerie Haynes of Waldorf, MD, preceded Veneissa in death. She is survived by her father Bill of Durham, NC; two brothers, Mathew of Durham, NC, and Timothy of Bowie, MD; numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 19, 2020, at Pine Forest and Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, 770 Stadium Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27587. CDC Face mask and physical distancing recommendations will be observed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Veneissa to The V Foundation, www.v.org or to Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (Chicago Chapter), www.littlebrotherschicago.org/support/ . The family is especially grateful to Heartland Hospice Care, especially her nurses Sara and Lisa, and Chaplain Brian, who helped to provide Veneissa with comfort while she was preparing for the next phase of her journey.

Veneissa Jacqueline Griffith

March 11, 1968 - June 12, 2020