First, Watch the Anniversary Tribute
Now, Read Their Story
Wesley and Jan came from pioneer Texas families that had been in the state from the years that it had been a country, before becoming a state. Both of their fathers came from North Texas farming families. Their moms came from families of educators and ministers. They both were blessed by a rich heritage of family, faith, and community involvement. They both know, and thank God, for the praying ancestors that sought to give their offspring a foundation of faith.
The Matthews family moved to Uvalde in 1952, to fill jobs of administration and teaching at Southwest Texas Junior College. Thus, Jan was born at the Uvalde Hospital in March of 1954.
In 1950, Rev. and Mrs. Lee Griffin began serving the First Methodist Church of Sabinal. Thus, Wesley was born at the Uvalde Hospital in September of 1952. So, for a brief moment in time, Wesley and Jan were growing up near to each other. The Matthews family remained in Uvalde, developing the Junior College, raising their family, and weaving their lives into this community all of their professional lives. But Methodist pastors have no such luxury. The Griffins moved in 1953 to San Angelo to serve the congregation of Angelo Heights Methodist Church. In 1958 they went to serve in Taft, then in 1963 to Robstown, 1968 in Victoria, then in 1969 they moved to Uvalde. This is when things get interesting!
Jan had loved her life growing up on the campus of the Junior College. She had access to generous play areas, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, and was most often found playing outside. Her school activities included band and the girls’ basketball team. She also had trained at twirling, so that gave her a skill in relation to band activities.
Wesley as well was active in sports and outdoor activities. He had participated in band in all the schools that he grew up in, as well as playing basketball. It was the common band involvement that actually drew our lovebirds together. As a senior in Uvalde High School, Wesley sat in a strategic spot with the baritone section in the band hall. Strategic because a certain red-headed twirler would walk by his chair as she made her way from the entrance over to the clarinet section. Yes, Jan caught his eye, and he couldn’t help noticing how beautiful and sweet she was. He was convinced she would be a perfect girlfriend, and a candidate for a life-long relationship.
In the fall of 1970, Wesley’s senior year and Jan’s junior, the annual Halloween Festival was scheduled to be held at the old City Park on Main Street. Wesley had agreed to serve in a booth where participants could pay to throw water balloons at the subjects in the booth. There was a rumor that Jan would be attending, and that she might be amenable to having a conversation. Wesley watched for her, and his heart rate went up when she came to the booth. Being the athlete that she is, she paid her fee and let fly with a strike! Wesley didn’t know whether to be concerned or encouraged! When the booth closed that night, he approached Jan and they had a good laugh about the event. Seeing that he was cold and wet, she then offered her coat, and accompanied him to his home where she met his parents, and Wesley put on some dry clothes. Walking back to the Festival, Wesley took her hand, and she did not refuse.
Wesley and Jan then dated for the next five years, through graduation, Wes off to a year of college at Texas Wesleyan, Jan’s graduation, Wes enlisting in the Navy, Jan attending the Junior College and then Texas A&I, and Wesley being stationed at the Naval Base at Corpus Christi.
In 1975, Wesley approached Jan’s dad Wayne about marrying Jan. He was fine with it, his only stipulation being that Jan finish her degree at A&I. Wesley readily assured him that they were as dedicated to that goal as he was. They had a big church wedding at First Baptist of Uvalde, with Jan’s pastor and Wesley’s dad officiating. After a short honeymoon trip to Houston, Wesley and Jan set up housekeeping in an apartment in Corpus not far from the Naval Base, and Jan started her student teaching to wrap up her degree work at A&I. One year later, they moved to Austin, where Jan started teaching at Manor ISD and Wes enrolled at the University of Texas Architecture School on the GI Bill. During the years of Wesley’s schooling, they attended Hyde Park Baptist Church, making many life-long friends and growing spiritually under the guidance of Pastor Ralph Smith. Wesley also met Don Tew, an architect that eventually hired him while still in school. This relationship became Wesley’s only job and employer in the field, until Mr. Tew passed. Also, during these years, Jan moved from teaching at Manor to Leander ISD, and finally to Round Rock ISD, where she retired after teaching 20 years.
Wesley and Jan’s first home purchase was a ‘starter’ spec house in Cedar Park, where they lived when Matthew was born in 1981. In 1983 they moved to Anderson Mill, where they were living when Kate was born in 1984, and their last and present home was built in 1996 in Liberty Hill.
In the fall of 1985, an event occurred that affected the Griffins’ lives forever. On Friday, October 4th, Wesley was assaulted as he arrived at his office near Lake Travis. He was beaten and left for dead. His employer and fellow employee found him there, and a star flight helicopter was able to transport him to the ER at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. Wesley survived the attack, recovering fully, and it has been his testimony since that only an angel of the Lord could have protected him from death that day.
After the attack and recovery, every decision that Wesley and Jan made was affected or tempered by that event and their commitment to live out their life of faith. One decision was to become licensed foster parents, leading to life-long relationships with many others. In the mid-90’s they launched a home church and later found a beautiful piece of land near Liberty Hill where they built their ‘fairy cottage’. Their commitment to their children Matthew Wayne, Kathryn Rose, Matthew Kyle Parker, and extended families always kept them focused on ‘home life’, as well as weekend and holiday visits to those loved ones. Family vacations were modeled after the camping style of the Griffins and usually included pulling a pop-up trailer and heading to the cool of the New Mexico and Colorado mountains.
After building their home outside of Liberty Hill, their life patterns settled somewhat into the small-town life, local church activities, community and political involvement, and projects at the house. The kids grew up and grew out, making their own homes and families. Jan embarked on a second career as a Voter Verification Tech at the Williamson County Elections Office, where she worked for another eighteen years. Jan and Wesley sought ways to serve and continue to grow in their relationship to the Lord, and to each other. As members of Fellowship Church Liberty Hill, they still lead a Connect Group each Monday night. Jan is driving folks to appointments and the store nearly every day and enjoying occasional grandchildren (we do have nine!) popping in for a ‘sleepover’. Wesley is still working his architecture firm out of the office in Liberty Hill and providing pulpit supply services to the County Baptist Association as well as Shenandoah Baptist Church.
And See How They've Grown Together Through the Years
