Griffin, Elizabeth Gordan, 1890-1968

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Gordan Griffin was born January 23, 1890, in Elizabeth City, N.C. An Episcopalian, she was appointed treasurer of the Missionary District (Diocese) of the Philippine Islands on February 10, 1931, and was working in Manila in 1942 when she was interned as an "enemy alien" by the invading Japanese army. Miss Griffin was one of approximately 7,000 non-combatant Allied citizens (mostly American and British) confined as "civilian internees" throughout World War II at Camps Santo Tomas and Los Banos in Manila. After both camps were liberated by U.S. forces at the end of the war, Griffin returned to the states briefly before resuming her work in the Philippines. Upon her retirement in 1955, she moved back to New Bern, where she died September 25, 1968.