Francella Mary Griggs

Who is Francella Mary Griggs?

Sister Francella Mary Griggs, S.N.J.M., was a Native American member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and a leading advocate of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. She successfully advocated for the restoration of federal recognition of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. The tribe regained federal recognition in 1977.

Sister Francella was born Florence Griggs on February 5, 1920, to Lloyd Manley and Amanda West Griggs. She graduated from St. Mary School in Medford, Oregon. The oldest of two sisters, Grigg's parents both died when she was young. She and her sister were raised at the Christie School, as the school is now called, in Marylhurst, Oregon, by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

Griggs entered the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and took her vows on February 5, 1943, which was her 23rd birthday. She completed bachelor's degrees in English and Spanish. Sister Francella then taught at high schools throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Holy Names Academy in Spokane, Sacred Heart Academy in Salem, Oregon, St. Mary's High School in Eugene, Oregon, Star of the Sea in Astoria, Oregon, and St. Mary's Academy in Portland, Oregon.