A Teacher’s Palmyra Pride Lives on in Her Philanthropy

Dr. Agnes E. Griffith’s Lasting Legacy in the Village of Palmyra

A scholar and lifelong educator, Dr. Griffith oversaw the Griffith McLouth Fund for 40-plus years, distributing more than $1.5 million in grants. The fund was created to preserve the character of Palmyra and enhance residents’ quality of life, particularly young people and older adults.

The Griffith family’s Wayne County roots are old and deep. Dr. Griffith’s father, Henry Watson Griffith, tackled educational reform as a New York State Senator and on the Palmyra Board of Education. Her mother and namesake, Agnes McLouth Griffith, was founder and director of Historic Palmyra and president of the Palmyra Courier-Journal. 

Mother and daughter, alongside cousin Charles McLouth, created the Griffith McLouth Foundation in 1981, which later became a fund of the Community Foundation. Grants have supported village institutions like Palmyra-Macedon Central School District, Palmyra Community Library, and Palmyra Community Center. You would be hard pressed to visit the village and not see at least one institution touched by the Griffith McLouth Fund – a testament to the generosity that matched the pride Dr. Griffith felt for Palmyra’s past.

A Life and Legacy Dedicated to Education

Learning and teaching are at the heart of Dr. Griffith’s life story. She earned a master’s degree at Oregon State University and a PhD from Purdue University before teaching at places like Vassar College and Purdue University. Eventually, she returned home to care for her mother and work as a school psychologist at Fairport Central School District for 17 years.

It’s not surprising then that Dr. Griffith’s philanthropy also supported young scholars. She established scholarship funds both in her name and in memory of family members. The University of Rochester’s Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, where Dr. Griffith created a chair, will be forever grateful for her visionary support for children and families.

Dr. Griffith passed in 2023 knowing her funds will continue to invest in Palmyra’s vibrant future and uplift its rich past for generations to come.