Remembering Issac: Friends, family recreate Duffield man's walk to work

ABINGDON — Before April 23, Issac Griffin had just graduated from Gate City High School, moved into an apartment, bought his first car and was planning to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.The 18-year-old Duffield man was getting his life on track and had made a favorable impression on friends and co-workers before that all came to an end at South Holston Lake when he tried to rescue a girl from drowning and died in the attempt.On Thursday, Griffin's friends and family gathered in Abingdon to recreate the daily three-mile trek to work at Farm Bureau of Abingdon that he made while part of the DePaul Community Resources Independent Living Program.Issac's sister, Kayla Hensley, had come to the walk with Griffin's father Danny, mother Donna and brother Boone."He walked every day to work and back," said Hensley. "It didn't matter if it was raining, sleeting or snowing. He never missed work or was late. He was very good with kids and he loved his cat. He was always helping and protecting everybody. He was a very kind soul and he was a hero. He saved a girl from drowning."Hensley said her brother's death has brought together many people including some the family did not know until now."Issac was very loved," Hensley said. "He wanted to join the Marines because it would put structure in his life. He knew where he wanted to be."Griffin had run cross-country at Rye Cove High School before transferring to Gate City High School early in his academic career, Hensley said.Issac enjoyed being outdoors and had studied martial arts before beginning to study Arabic."He was always telling his brothers to "touch grass," Hensley said with a smile."He had a guardian personality," Gate City High School principal Scott Vermillion recalled. "He worked in the church where I pastor and helped out with Bible summer camp. He fell in love with reading the Bible and was a very good helper with the kids in camp."While in high school, Griffin said he wanted to be an emergency medical technician and help others, Vermillion said."It's prophetic that he was trying to help someone before he died," said Vermillion.Griffin had been in foster care while at Gate City High School, and DePaul Independent Living Program Manager Carrie Elswick said the program is designed to help people who have aged out of foster care by providing housing while they find employment and transition to an independent life."He was an excellent young man," said Elswick. "He was very kind, respectful and protective over everybody. He was a hard worker and truly one of the finest young gentlemen that's ever come through our program. He was a fine Southern gentleman. He befriended everybody and as soon as a new youth entered the program, Issac would go introduce himself. He was just a good guy."Griffin "hit the ground running," Elswick said, as he looked for a job and a car. "He loved to work out, play basketball, lift weights and run," Elswick said. "That's why he walked to work instead of us transporting him because he loved to be physically active.""We do want to make this a yearly walk and maybe even open it up to the community," said Elswick.As the 14 walkers arrived at the Farm Bureau store, Griffin's co-workers greeted them and exchanged hugs and stories about him."I only worked with him for four days, and in those four days I knew he was a good kid," said Rick Mazoway. "I wished him the best as he was going off with friends that day and we went our separate ways. We came back the next day and got the news. It was sad knowing that it had happened just a couple of hours after he left here.""You hate to see any kid, especially one as determined as he was, have an end like that," Mazoway said. "He deserved a lot longer life."Tabetha Crusenberry echoed Mazoway's impression of Griffin. Crusenberry met him when he started at Farm Bureau just over four months ago."He was shy at first and didn't say a whole lot," said Crusenberry, "but when you started talking with him, he would open up. He was so determined and was like he knew what he wanted and he was going to get it.""Customers loved him," Crusenberry said. "He very quickly became some of our regulars' favorite. He could get along with anybody and you just had to like him. He's probably the most determined 18 year old I ever met. He had a plan, and it's a shame he didn't get to follow through."