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Lewis Isaac, 70 of Asheville, died on Sunday, June 2, 2019 after a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 25, 1948 and was the son of Green (deceased) and Rebecca Isaac Jr. He was born and raised in and around Mocksville.

He attended David County High School and was one of the original eight to integrate the high school. He was the fourth of six 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’s degree with honors, and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Sigma Chapter. He retired as chief of human resources at the VA Medical Center after 27 years, then later retired from City of Asheville Human Resources. He was involved with several groups and organizations: 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, N.C. Governor’s Council on Sickle Cell & Related Disorders, Our Voice, RiverLink, YMCA, U.S. Tennis Association and United Way.  Awards include: excellence in public service for City of Asheville and the Greater Asheville Area, Road Runner Club of America National Volunteer Award, and awards insports, including 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 out of more than 800), softball (city leagues). He served as a Johnston Elementary Mentor, and volunteered with the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament and the US Fed Cup.

Mr. Isaac loved tennis and what it does for those that play. He supported the Asheville Tennis Association, serving as a board member. His roles included obtaining facilities for tennis programming, leading youth clinics, and volunteering for the last 2 Fed Cup ties in Asheville.  He served as an on-court teacher in the youth clinics and as a leader in the credentials office, where he greeted national and international leaders in the sport. Anne Marie Martin of the U.S. Tennis Association said this: “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.” He played tennis at the Aston Park Tennis Center for decades.  A supporter of public tennis, he served with a group of 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.  He was a long-time member of the USTA, the governing body of tennis in the United States.

Survivors: his former spouse, Hazel P. Isaac; an adult daughter, LaTonya (Toni) I Taylor and grandson Anthony Jordan Taylor; in addition to his remaining siblings and mother.

A memorial service was held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Hopkins Chapel AME Zion.

Memorials: to the charity of 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/.