James Wyatt Griffith was born on November 1, 1923, in Gary, Panola County, Texas, the fifth son of W.G. and Ethel Griffith. He was saved on June 18, 1939, and later baptized by Mt. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Panola County. On August 10, 1946, he married Mae Chapman, and they had four children: Phil, Joe, Nancy, and Mark. He earned a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State College and taught in public schools for seven and one-half years. On August 27, 1952, at age 28, he answered the call to the ministry at Nacogdoches Missionary Baptist Church, became its pastor one month later, and was ordained there in October 1952. His pastorates included Nacogdoches, Pruitt Lake, Sunset Hopewell, Zion Hill, First Baptist-Arp, Bethel, and Smyrna, and he also served for many years as senior adult minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson, Texas. In the fall of 1952, he enrolled in Texas Baptist Institute, where he earned bachelor and master of theology degrees and was awarded a doctorate of theology in 1959. From 1952 until his death in 1997, he was affiliated with T.B.I. as a student, teacher, trustee, treasurer, and registrar, and he taught Old Testament history and church history up to his death. Born with a heart defect and not expected to live to adolescence, he could not run and play like other children, so he read and wrote, abilities that later served his work in public schools and seminary. For 19 years, he wrote literature for the Sunday school committee of the American Baptist Association, authored a popular series of book-by-book Old Testament study manuals and workbooks, and wrote a final book titled "The Old Testament in Matthew." His teaching, pastoring, and writing affected countless lives.