Veronica McGriff, 63, has stood beside Fred McGriff since they married in 1988. Across more than thirty years together, she’s been the steady presence at home while Fred pursued his baseball career.
They raised two children who now live and work in Florida. Their son, Erick, is building a career in real estate and is married to Morgan Burns, as shown on his LinkedIn profile. Their daughter, Ericka, works as an influencer talent and partnership manager, according to her LinkedIn page.
Like any long marriage, theirs has faced difficulties, but they’ve worked through hardships together.
How a Major Crisis Ultimately Brought Them Closer
Veronica and Fred’s relationship began in an unexpected spot: Burger King. Yet by 2011 their marriage had deteriorated to the point of police involvement. For months McGriff’s behavior changed so drastically that Veronica felt increasingly alarmed.
The tipping point came when he secretly forged her signature to transfer $1 million from their joint account. That act, combined with his growing coldness and sharp words, left their partnership in real jeopardy.
She began to feel unsafe at home and uncertain about what might happen next — a painful contrast to the close team they had been since ’88.
Instead of ending their marriage, they withdrew the legal action and chose counseling to try to repair the relationship. Some observers have speculated that the turmoil followed Fred losing his role with the Rays, though the couple ultimately focused on working through their issues.
Over the next several years they rebuilt trust and stability. By 2019 they sold their Tampa home for $2.45 million, according to the Tampa Bay Times, a move that marked a new chapter for them.
Their recovery was on full display in 2023 during Fred’s Hall of Fame induction, when he publicly acknowledged Veronica as his biggest supporter. She was beaming in the stands — a sign that, for them, surviving the worst helped forge something stronger.
In other words: what nearly broke them became the foundation for a renewed partnership.
From Massage Therapy to Travel Planning
Although many fans know her as Mrs. McGriff, she has been building a distinct professional identity beyond the baseball spotlight.
Since 2010 she has been working to relieve aches and tightness as a massage therapist, making hands-on care a central part of her career.
In 2014 she broadened her skill set by completing a Tourism and Travel Services Management program at PENNFOSTER, and now crafts personalized vacations through My Paradise Planner Agency.
She has also added infant massage to her repertoire, helping soothe the youngest clients, and currently lives in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Her Christianity Is Front and Center
Veronica, the daughter of Allen and Teressa Watts, doesn’t simply identify as Christian—her social media makes her faith visible in everyday life. A look through her Facebook shows she often frames life events through a spiritual lens.
For example, a recent post about her grandson’s baby shower didn’t stop at cute photos; she threaded Scripture into the captions, treating the celebration as an opportunity to share verses and reflections.
During Holy Week she tends to walk followers through the Gospel accounts, unpacking the passages in a way that connects their ancient meaning to present-day life and emotions.
On ordinary days her updates still lean devotional—more expressions of gratitude and blessings than the typical feed content most people scroll past.
