Addie Mae (Cheek) Blair Griffin

Addie Mae (Cheek) Blair Griffin, 85, of Sallisaw, Okla. arrived in Heaven March 16, 2023, to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born on September 20, 1937 in the small town of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Cheek and Edna Louise (Burton) Cheek.

An admirable and wonderful life that lasted 85 years was filled with the love of family, the respect of peers and colleagues, and blessings of many cherished friends.

She was married to her high school sweetheart Jerry Blair in Sallisaw. She graduated from Sallisaw High School where she was an all-around student involved in many activities. She loved basketball and her teammates.

She was the first person in her family to graduate from a 4-year college. She completed her Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Okla.

Education has always been important to her. She worked for Sallisaw Public Schools for more than 50 years. She began her career as a classroom teacher. She worked in Special Education, psychometry, administration, and became the Federal Programs Director. After retirement, she was the Director of Adult Education until her second retirement at 80 years old. She continued to be an avid supporter of the Black Diamonds. She was also a proud member of the Cherokee Nation.

Addie served on numerous boards including the Oklahoma Special Olympics, People Inc. (Sallisaw), Eastern Oklahoma Library System (Muskogee), as well as the President of the Oklahoma State Board of Adult Education.

She was a long time member of First Baptist Church and a Sunday school teacher in various classes. Aside from her family, the most important thing in her life was her First Baptist Church family. She loved the past and present pastors and the warm friendly people who faithfully attended. Addie volunteered with Caring Hearts Ministry, and it was such a blessing to two generations of her family.

Addie’s family was her greatest joy, and she devoted her life to loving and supporting them. Her passion was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had the ability to make each one feel special and showered them with love.

Survivors include her only daughter, Melinda Blair French, and son-in-law, David French of Hot Springs, Arkansas; her precious grandchildren, Sarah French Carpenter and husband Chris Carpenter and great-grandchildren, Blair and CJ Carpenter of Charlotte, North Carolina; grandson, Dr. William Wesley French of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; brothers, Don Reed (Oklahoma City), Charles Reed (Sallisaw), Dr. Ben Cheek (Sallisaw); many nieces and nephews she adored.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jerry Blair; sister, Peggy Whitener; brothers, Bob Reed and Burton Cheek.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Caring Hearts Ministry at First Baptist Church, 122 W Chickasaw Ave., Sallisaw, OK 74955.

A viewing will take place Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home where the family will greet 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The memorial will be Wednesday, 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church. A reception will follow. She will be laid to rest at Sallisaw City Cemetery.

Active Pallbearers will be Will French, Chris Carpenter, Chris Cheek, Jeff Reed, David Jean, Emory Zakin, David Zakin, James Martin.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Aydelott, Nelson Bewley, Bob Carlile, Scott Farmer, Chris Hensley, Ron Jones, Dwight Phillips, Randy Rogers, Ray Sparks, Steve Sullivan, Bill Wilson, and Gleaners Sunday School Class.

The service will be live streamed on the First Baptist Church Facebook page.