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Retired U.S. Navy LNC
Nadia Alexis Griffin Sansom
September 19, 1979 - February 27, 2025
"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." ~ Philippians 1:21

Nadia Alexis Griffin Sansom, affectionately known as "Tootie," was the beloved daughter of Bernard M. Griffin and Shirley Dizzley Griffin. She was born on September 19, 1979, in Charleston, South Carolina. From this special day, it was obvious that God was up to something good, and He wanted Nadia to be a part of the process. She was a resident of Tallahassee, Florida.

Nadia was reared in a family of believers. She accepted Christ as her Redeemer early in life. As she grew in grace, she also grew in faith and walked in the wonderful, unlimited power of God in her life. After joining the Family Worship and Praise Center, Nadia became a member of the Membership Services Ministry as well as a volunteer with Shoes4School which provides thousands of students in Leon County with brand new shoes.

Nadia enlisted in the U.S. Navy on February 22, 2000. She pledged her service to her country and her honor to God in a more excellent way. She served as a paralegal or law clerk under the supervision of a Judge Advocate in the JAG Corps, a military justice branch where she achieved the rank of Legalman Chief Petty Officer (LNC). During her career, she served in the Gulf War, was assigned to the Legal Offices in Mayport, Florida, and San Diego, California, as well as to the Regional Legal Service Office in Japan and on the USS Ronald Reagan. She retired from active duty with 20+ years of exemplary service on February 29, 2020.

Nadia was known to go above and beyond the call of duty in her stellar job performance. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies at Roger Williams University in Providence, Rhode Island. Some of her many responsibilities and activities that she was accountable for in her career included the following: being the founder and president of Military Family Volunteer Network (MFVN), a 160-member organization of active-duty members and their families; representing the government at employment hearings to determine retention or termination employment and creating the orientation briefs as well as conducting the orientation for new employees; providing Executive Support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Deputy CEO by maintaining their schedules, arranging travel, preparing and producing materials and presentations for executive meetings as well as providing correspondence support; providing legal support to an organization of more than 6,000 military service members including legal assistance, criminal and administrative investigation reviews, and employee termination actions; leading a team of 50 to provide humanitarian support to Japan following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and planning a morale-boosting family event onboard a nuclear aircraft carrier for 732 families while managing on a budget of only $18,000.

After her military retirement, Nadia combined her people skills with her passion for doing things well, her creativity for cooking, and her talent for preparing visually appealing dishes to convince herself that the time was right to establish a business in her own name, "Tootie's Charcuterie," for catering her tantalizing charcuterie boards/ delicatessen platters.

Additional pastime activities that Nadia enjoyed were her love of traveling to other destinations around the country and abroad, fishing, gardening, reading, and solving puzzles, all for her own enjoyment, rest, and relaxion. She also faithfully watched her favorite television series: "Chopped," "Chicago Fire," and "Law and Order."

Nadia was a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a public service sisterhood that educates the public, assists youth, provides scholarships, supports organized charities, and promotes social and civic change legislation.

"It's time to come home, dear sister; your tour of duty is through. You've given as much as anyone could ever expect to do." The Lord recognized that it was well with Retired U.S. Navy LNC Nadia Alexis Griffin Sansom's soul. She fulfilled her life missions and will be rewarded for her perseverance, her integrity, and her honorable deeds. Therefore, the Lord chose Thursday, February 27, 2025, to bring His faithful servant home to earn her eternal rest.

"So take your place of honor among those who have gone before, and know that you will be remembered for now, and evermore." Nadia Alexis Griffin Sansom will be missed, but those who know the Lord, have hope in the promise that they will meet again.

Cherishing her life, her love, and her legacy are her beloved children: Kyrie Johnson, Layla Johnson, and Cedrick Johnson, II, all of Tallahassee, FL; her devoted parents: Bernard M. Griffin and Shirley Dizzley Griffin, both of Charleston, SC; loving brothers: Bishop-Elect Quincy Devon (Michelle) Griffin, of Tallahassee, FL and Maurice (Faith) Griffin, of Ladson, SC; affectionate paternal grandmother: Reverend Martha B. Griffin of Charleston, SC; her precious fur baby: Biggie Smalls; in addition to many other sorrowing relatives, comforting friends, and countless others whose lives she impacted in her own special way.