Hometown girl returns to church where she was married 50 years ago

Sheryl Griffin, 76, of Jasper, Texas, never thought she’d go to college in Illinois and fall in love with a man from New Jersey, but she did. 

On May 27, 1972 at 2 p.m., she married Ron Blankley of River Vale, New Jersey, two years her junior. And on May 27, 2022 at 2 p.m., they returned to the church where it all started: First United Methodist Church of Jasper.

“There’s no better place to be than Jasper, Texas,” Ron said. It was his idea to return to Jasper, traveling 1,500 miles from New Jersey where they’ve lived for roughly 40 years. 

When they met with a travel agent to plan their trip and gave her the 75951 zip code, she said, “That’s deep in the middle of nowhere.”

Ron said, “That’s exactly where we’re going.”

Sheryl’s sister, Lin Griffin, 10 years her junior, had never met anyone from New Jersey before. Still a teenager, she’d never left Texas. Neither had most people in Jasper at the time. 

“It was quite the talk of the town that she married a Yankee,” she said. She hadn’t even met her new brother-in-law until right before the wedding.

Prior to heading to Wheaton College, Sheryl’s father, Jimmy Griffin, told her, “My biggest fear is that you’ll marry a Yankee and never come home.”

On her wedding day, he drove her very slowly to the church and in a round about way, she said. She just wanted to get to there and “couldn’t understand why daddy was doing that,” she said.

Before walking her down the aisle, he told her, “It’s not too late to change your mind.” She just looked at him and said, “I’ll always love you, daddy.”

Ron’s camp counselor from Christian Service Brigade, whom he’d known since he was nine, married them. They wrote their own vows with Psalm 34 as their theme.

Their parents came from humble beginnings and were of the “Greatest Generation.”

Sheryl’s parents, Jimmy and Masel Griffin, came from humble beginnings. He was born and raised in a tiny home in Woodville, the fifth of nine children. She was born in Center, and moved to Jasper later on and her family experienced great hardship during the Great Depression. They were married in the house of Masel’s brother, Lee Alvis, who lived on Peachtree St. After Pearl Harbor, Jimmy enlisted in the Navy and headed off to the Pacific theater. She waited for him to return, living in a room of the home of the local jeweler for whom she worked in town. 

After Jimmy came home, they moved into their own place across the street from Jasper High School. Several years later, they had Sheryl and moved to a small house on First Street. 

Ron’s parents, Warren and Gladys Blankley, who grew up in northern New Jersey, met in high school. His mother would wait four years for Warren to return from the war prior to them being married. He served in the Army in North Africa and Italy. It was only after he died that Ron learned of the commendations his father had been nominated for, which were tucked underneath papers in a box. Warren, who was incredibly humble, never told anyone. 

Mutual friends introduced Ron and Sheryl at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Illinois, one night towards the end of her junior year and his freshman year. He said he’d never seen anyone with such beautiful long blonde hair. After he told her about his plans for the summer, she replied, “Oh bless your heart!” He’d never heard that before and was smitten.

They’d date and break up and get back together again, and eventually get engaged in February 1972. She planned the wedding from Minnesota while he was in Philadelphia. Friends and family from the East coast and the Midwest came to the small logging town having never heard of it before. They’d never even been to Texas.

But it was the place to be for a celebration. Fifty years later it was no different.

This time, Ron and Sheryl stayed at the Swann Hotel Bed & Breakfast run by new owners, Roy and Sarah Crone. Their gracious and hospitable hosts made the stay feel like a home away from home, so much so that they stayed an extra night. Sixty years ago, the hotel was run by the Swann sisters who hosted the rehearsal dinner of Sheryl’s older cousin. 

Lin, her maid of honor 50 years ago, made arrangements at the church including asking Rebel Hood, who owns Bobby’s Bouquet, to recreate Sheryl’s bouquet. Rebel made it look almost identical to the one she held walking down the aisle. Angie Neal of Angie Neal Photography in Jasper captured the moment on camera. 

They celebrated that evening at Rayburn Country Resort at Lake Sam Rayburn. and had an anniversary cake made by Sharon Miller, also of Jasper.

Wherever they went during their visit, people remarked that it wasn’t often they’d hear of a 50-year wedding anniversary. Marriage isn’t easy, they’ve acknowledged. Over five decades they’ve shared better and worse times. But the purpose of marriage wasn’t solely about them. It was always about God.

They felt called to the ministry, first working with Campus Crusade for Christ, then later for evangelical bible teaching churches. They raised children who’d later have grandchildren. 

But through it all, they kept in mind the verse of their vows: “Oh magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Ps. 34:3)

“Only in God’s providence would someone from northern New Jersey be in Jasper, Texas,” Ron said. “But there’s no better place to be.”

He says he can’t wait to come back.