Claudia Griffith

Claudia Griffith (September 2, 1950 – July 14, 2018) was an American nurse and politician.

She earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Oklahoma and worked for the nonprofit organization Health for Friends. Griffith was active in the parent-teacher association of Jefferson Elementary School, Longfellow Middle School, and Norman North High School. Griffith, a Democrat, was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives from district 45 in 2014, and reelected in 2016. She began campaigning for an Oklahoma Senate seat in 2018. Griffith died on July 14, 2018, of a heart attack, aged 67.

Early life and education Claudia was born to September 2, 1950 to Claud and Margie Russell in Altus, Oklahoma. After completing her public school education, she attended the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a master's degree in Public Health. She also became a Registered Nurse. Griffith soon became the first full-time Patient Health Coordinator for the Norman Regional Hospital in Norman, Oklahoma.

Claudia then worked for the Cleveland County Health Department then became a consultant for the OU Health Promotions Program, where she worked on health education and disease prevention issues with Native Americans all over North America. Later, she became executive director of Health for Friends, a non-profit agency that provides prenatal, chronic disease, pharmacy, and dental services to underserved and indigent people.

Claudia had been married to James Griffith for 47 years, and were described as "best friends" and "inseparable".