Angela Yvonne Griggs

Tissue and cornea donor

Age 38 – Detroit, MI

Donated on 11/10/2010

Honored by Gift of Life Michigan

Angela’s vibrant personality made her unforgettable in the hearts and minds of her family, friends and everyone she encountered. She lived every day of her 38 years to the fullest. She loved singing, dancing, and acting. Angie also cared deeply about helping others, especially those she felt could not help themselves. She was known to give her own time, talents, and treasures to help people in need, doing everything possible to help provide food and shelter to the less fortunate. Blessed with a beautiful, uplifting voice, Angie sang in the choir, worked in the nursery and was a member of the Drama Group at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit. In 2009, Angie became a nurse and specialized in pediatric nursing. In November 2010, Angela suffered an asthma attack that proved fatal. She had already made the decision to register as a donor, and her tissues and organs helped save and improve the lives of many.

Angela’s Story

Angela Yvonne Griggs’s vibrant personality made her unforgettable in the hearts and minds of her family, friends and everyone she encountered. She lived every day of her 38 years to the fullest. Angela loved singing, dancing, and acting.

Angie, as she was affectionately called, also cared deeply about helping others, especially those she felt could not help themselves. She was especially drawn to children. She was known to give of her own time, talents, and treasures to help people in need, and would even borrow from others to make sure that the less fortunate had a meal to eat or a place to stay.

Much of Angela’s generosity stemmed from her upbringing and her faith. Blessed with a beautiful, uplifting voice, she sang in the choir, worked in the nursery and was a member of the Drama Group at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit. Initially her educational pursuits led her to become a theater major, but when that dream faded, her commitment to helping others led her to pursue another dream, that of becoming a nurse. Angela moved to Philadelphia, a climate that she thought would reduce the symptoms of her asthma. In 2009, she became a nurse and specialized in pediatric nursing.

In November 2010, Angela suffered an asthma attack that proved fatal. Angela had already made the decision she wanted to help others by registering as a donor. Her gifts of tissues and organs saved and improved the lives of many.

Angela’s spirit and presence has stayed with her family and with her community back home in Michigan. “Team Angie” shirts can be seen on participants in numerous public awareness events in Metro Detroit.

“I am so proud of my daughter and her decision to be a donor,” said Artelia Griggs, Angela’s mother. “In honor of her life, I have become a registered donor.”

Angela would love to know that in addition to sharing the “Gift of Life and Time” with other families, she continues to share her love on the Donate Life Rose Parade float.