Ordinarily, when a beloved celebrity passes on, there’s a lengthy discussion about funeral arrangements. Some families elect to have large events open to the public. Others hold a small memorial for family members and a second service for fans. In the case of Andy Griffith, everything was apparently decided well in advance.
The television star passed away this morning at around 7 AM EST. Four and a half hours later, he was officially laid to rest in a grave dug near his Roanoke Island home. According to CNN, family members have refused to comment on why the unusual arrangements were made, but the wish was reportedly Griffith’s. He battled an unidentified illness for some time and apparently wished to pass on without much hoopla or fanfare.
The actor was born in 1926 and achieved incredible success with both his self-titled show in the early 1960s and as the detective Matlock in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. He was married three times, had two children and was an outspoken Christian for much of his life. His co-stars consistently praised his generosity and fans always took to his easy, North Carolina charm.
Pop Blend sends out its sincerest well-wishes to Griffith’s surviving family members, as well as all those touched by his life. His Andy Taylor will go down as one of the most beloved television characters ever. Almost twenty years after The Andy Griffith Show left the airwaves, NBC was still trying to convince him to make new episodes, which is one of the greatest testaments to enduring popularity I’ve ever heard.
We’ll miss you, Andy.
