Miriam Browne Griffis, 95, passed away on October 8, 2025, in League City, Texas. Born on October 16, 1929, in Fairfield, Texas Miriam began playing the piano at the age of 6. Miriam attended Baylor University where she received a bachelor’s degree in music and graduated with Honors in 1950. Miriam attended Union Seminary in New York City where she received her master’s in sacred music and studied under famed organist and composer Dr. Vernon DeTar and organist Hugh Porter.
Later Miriam served on the faculty of the Golden Gate Seminary in Oakland, California and was a pupil of Richard Purvis, organist at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Miriam returned to Baylor University, working as an organ and piano instructor and serving as a music librarian for almost 30 years. During this period, Miriam also served as an organist at various churches in Waco before accepting the organist position at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
In 1994, Miriam moved to Clear Lake to be close to her son and family. She was the organist at Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Nassau Bay for almost 20 years. And a member of the American Guild of Organists until her retirement in 2020. While Miriam loved playing music, her greatest joy came from being with her grandsons.
Miriam was preceded in death by her parents P.D. and Fay Browne, brothers Ivan and Lowell Browne and grandson Jared Griffis. She is survived by her son, Philip Griffis and wife Cindy, grandson Wyatt Griffis, wife Meaghan Maskew, great-granddaughter Charlotte Fay Griffis and grandson Jackson Griffis.A private burial will take place in Fairfield, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waco, Texas or the Jared Griffis Creative Writing Award at St. John’s School in Houston, Texas.
