William James "Jim" Griffin

William James (“Jim”) Griffin, age 71, of Hayden, Alabama, passed into the Gates of Heaven on the morning of August 2, 2026. He was born November 28, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Evelyn Griffin. Jim is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Esther Griffin; his two daughters, Sarah and Rachel; grandsons, Seth and Hawk; his sister, Mary Steele; his brother, John Griffin; as well as a niece and nephews. A faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jim sought to live a life of honor and integrity. His kindness, humility, and humor will be fondly remembered by all the many people he touched during his many years of public service. Jim joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1978 and faithfully upheld his oath to serve and protect the communities there for more than two and a half decades after. The morning he left his last overnight shift in Birmingham, he changed into a Fultondale Police Department uniform and began another twelve years of service on the day shift there. Few people actually remember how he gained the nickname, “Chickenman”, but rare is the police officer from his years of service that doesn’t remember him fondly by that name. He was one of the first police officers in Alabama formally trained and certified in Traffic Accident Reconstruction at the Institute of Police Technology and Management. For four decades, Jim was passionate about “working wrecks”, and training and mentoring other police officers from all over the country in proper accident reconstruction and investigation techniques. He personally investigated thousands of fatalities throughout his career, helping bring justice for victims and their families through his dedication and work ethic. When he wasn’t working, Jim was devoted to his wife and two daughters at home. He was the best and most supportive husband and father a family could ever hope for, and his presence will be deeply missed. Jim was always looking out for what the people around him needed and taking care of the people in his life. He was always patient, always kind, always thoughtful, and forever optimistic. He loved going to the mountains, watching the sun rise over the woods from the back porch at home, drinking from a bottomless pot of coffee, and above all, he loved his family. He never met a stranger, and it was a regular occurance to walk into a restaurant across town with him and run into someone whose life he’d touched in some way. When that happened, he could easily stay and talk for hours. Our loss is Heaven’s gain, but his loved ones’ sadness will only last a little while until we are together again. Services to honor Jim's life will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Gardendale Heritage Funeral Home. Visitation is from 10am-12pm. Chapel service will begin at 12pm. Burial and honors, presented by both Birmingham and Fultondale Police Departments, will follow in Walker Memory Gardens, Jasper, AL.

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William James "Jim" Griffin

November 28, 1954 - August 2, 2026