Lewis Jerome Isaac

Lewis Isaac, 70 of Asheville went home to be with the LORD on Sunday, June 2, 2019 after a brief illness.  He was born November 25, 1948 and was the son of Green (deceased) and Rebecca Isaac, Jr. He was born and raised in and around Mocksville, NC.

He attended David County High School and was one of the original 8 to integrate the high school. He was the 4th of 6 children: Frances I. Spencer (deceased), James, Sr. (decreased), Eleanor Brown, Alice G. Isaac, Bruce Isaac, Sr. (Edith), Rachel Wade (Roland). He is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, Class of 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree, Cum Laude, and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Sigma Chapter. Lewis retired as Chief of Human Resources at the VA Medical Center after 27 years of service, then later retired from City of Asheville Human Resources. He was involved with several groups and organizations:

Boards and Memberships:

American Red Cross

American Society for Training and Development – Western Carolina Chapter

Asheville City Schools

Asheville Housing Authority

Asheville Parks and Recreation

Asheville Tennis Association

Asheville Track Club

Alcoholic Beverage Control

BB & T

Building Bridges

Combined Federal Campaign

Manna Food Bank

North Carolina Governor’s Council on Sickle Cell & Related Disorders

Our Voice

RiverLink

YMCA

United States Tennis Association

United Way

Awards:

Excellence in Public Service for both City of Asheville and the Greater Asheville Area

Road Runner Club of America National Volunteer Award

Numerous awards in several different sports, including but not limited to biking, bowling (several leagues – has filled officer roles in many of those leagues), basketball (city leagues), racquetball, road running (completed the Charlotte Observer Marathon in 1980 - finishing in 149th place out of over 800), softball (city leagues)

Volunteerism:

Johnston Elementary Mentor

Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament

US Fed Cup

Talent for My40 High School Broadcast teams, both as on-air talent and statistician – football and men’s and women’s basketball

Lewis loved the sport of tennis and what it does for those that play.  He was an avid supporter of the Asheville Tennis Association, serving as a Board member.  His roles on the Board included obtaining facilities for tennis programming, leading youth clinics, and volunteering for the last 2 Fed Cup ties in Asheville.  He served both as an on-court teacher in the youth clinics and as a leader in the Credentials Office, where he had the opportunity to meet and greet many national and international leaders in the sport.  Anne Marie Martin of the United States Tennis Association said this about Lewis - "What a beautiful person Lewis was and I was so glad I got to know him working at Fed Cup the past two years.  He made anyone walking into Credentials feel special and welcomed."  This quote echoes the thoughts of everyone who ever met Lewis.

Lewis played tennis at the Aston Park Tennis Center for decades.  An ardent supporter of Public Tennis, he served with a group of many Aston Park supporters in working with local government officials in keeping Aston Park open to everyone in the Asheville area, regardless of their ability to pay.  The Asheville Tennis Community loved Lewis and his big heart for service to others.  He was a long-time member of the USTA, the governing body of tennis in the United States.

He is survived by former spouse Hazel P. Isaac; one adult daughter, LaTonya (Toni) I Taylor and grandson Anthony Jordan Taylor in addition to his remaining siblings and mother.

A Memorial Service for Mr. Isaac will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, June 8th at Hopkins Chapel AME Zion located at 21 College Place.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like for donations to be made to the charity of their choice or to: Johnson C. Smith University https://www.jcsu.edu/giving/give_now, Hopkins Chapel AME Zion Church http://www.hopkinschapelamezion.org/ , or Sickle Cell Disease Association of America https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/

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