Beth Griffin was an artistic, intelligent and compassionate young woman who met a tragic and premature death after contracting the B virus as a result of inadequate prevention procedures and deficient treatment after exposure.

Beth is survived by her older sister, Kimberly Griffin Hicks, a practicing pediatrician in Knoxville , Tennessee, in addition to her parents, William and Caryl Griffin of Kingsport, Tennessee. Her father is a practicing dermatologist, and her mother is both a registered nurse and an ordained United Methodist minister.

Beth’s charismatic personality brightened the lives of those around her. Her talents and interests ranged from academics with an emphasis in advanced biological studies to dance and other social activities. Beth attended public schools in Kingsport, graduating from Dobyns-Bennett High School, class of 1993. While in high school, Beth distinguished herself as a student, a cheerleader, and a member of the National Championship dance chorus.

After graduation, Beth moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the prestigious Agnes Scott College. She completed a major in biology and a minor in psychology. Beth graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in May 1997.

While at Agnes Scott, Beth continued to pursue her varied interests. She was a member of the Studio Dance Theatre, Outdoors Club, Circle K International, and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Academically, she served as an intern at Zoo Atlanta, a volunteer research assistant at White River National Refuge, a volunteer research assistant at Yerkes Primate Center, and was the National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellow. The Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Internship was established by the ERG Foundation as a lasting tribute to the important role Agnes Scott College played in Beth’s life.

Beth’s strong academic background was underscored by her inclusions as co-author of several scientific publications. Her credits include “Maternal Cradling and Infant Nipple Preference in Rhesus Macaques,” “Sexual Dimorphism in the Terminal Abdominal Ganglion of Schistorcerca Americana,” Nesting and Migrating Patterns of Prothonetary Warbler and Acadian Flycatcher,” “Sex Differences in Infant Rhesus Macaques’ Tantrum Vocalizations: The Relationship to the Pre-Natal Hormone Environment,” and “Effects of Prenatal Testosterone on Later Infant Directed Behavior.”

At the time of her death, Beth was a research assistant at Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. At Yerkes, Beth was engaged in behavioral research on hormonal influences in Rhesus macaques. Beth planned to continue with graduate research in the field of biological sciences.

Beth’s needless and untimely death robbed her family and friends of her vibrant presence. The larger world of medicine is also deprived of her untold potential in the field of animal research. Beth’s family established The Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation, Inc. with the fervent desire that the scientific community and the general public could continue to learn from the resources of a person who had so much to offer the world.