Dr. John McGriff was a general dentist in the city of Portsmouth, Virginia. He was a native of South Carolina. He set up a dental office that broke through racial barriers with 60% of his patient base being Non-African American. He loved tennis and has been credited with teaching and inspiring tennis stars of the 1940s and 1950s.

The John McGriff Dental Society was established in 1953 after his death. This component delivers Thanksgiving baskets to deserving families each year. They also spear head health fairs to educate the general public.