Remembering Andy Griffith
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He was pretty much a fixture in my entertainment life for as long as I can remember — but my childhood in particular.
Andy Samuel Griffith was an actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer. He was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina on June 1, 1926. He passed at his family farm in Manteo on Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina on July 3, 2012.
Even when I encountered him in other presentations alien to that image of him I retained in my head he was still the Andy Griffith of my memories.
My Grandma Sallie loved Matlock. She was partial to legal shows like Perry Mason so this was a likely attraction based on her other stated tastes. So Andy Griffith got another run with me and Grandma sitting at her teevee, volume as high as it would go.
I remember the day he died from a heart attack at age 86 at his home. I recall that I thought his final affairs to be rather rushed as he was interred within 5 hours of his passing. I can only believe that these extremely fast proceedings were a part of his will and last testament.
Be all of this as it may he remains one of those people I will always remember because of my exposure level to his art and those others he shared with me as the result of those scripts he brought to life.
Rest in peace.