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". ==References==