Soul of 78: Joey Griffin

Joey’s Plumbing

Words by Nick Norris | Images by Justin Hunter

To most, he is a handyman. The 64-year-old Jasper native worked for the Cordova Water and Gas Board until 2005, repairing anything and everything they asked and getting his hands dirty for any necessary job. His expertise also encompasses most things mechanical, and he can often be found in his garage, restoring old cars to their former glory.

After retiring, Joey became a businessman when he opened Joey’s Plumbing in the early 1990s. He now stays busy serving the community with his decades of experience.

More importantly, Joey is a family man.

“The most important thing in my life is my daughter,” Joey says.

Joey’s 38-year-old daughter, Melody, is the number one reason he has always worked so hard.

“She is handicapped,” Joey explains. “(My wife) Carolyn is retired and stays with her during the day.”

Joey and Carolyn have been together for over 33 years.

“We all get away to the mountains for a day or two sometimes,” Joey says. “They both like to go on cruises, but I can’t take that much time off.”

Joey is a working man, but money and family aren’t his only motivators. He is also a man of the people. He likes lending others a hand and feels a sense of pride in his work, especially when it’s helpful to someone else. He wants this sentiment to be felt when you do business with Joey’s Plumbing.

“I like to think we are more personal than some other businesses,” Joey says. “A year after plumbing someone’s house, we can pick up the phone, remember the customer, and fix any issue as quickly as possible. We’re not one of these big faceless corporations that won’t remember. We take care of our customers.”

But when he finally kicks his boots off at the end of a long day, his mind turns away from all those jobs.

“When I get home, I just like to spend time with my daughter.”

Joey may be a handyman, a businessman, and a man of the people. But above all else, he’s a family man. 78