Tom's Life Bits

Issac Henry Knight was born on December 31, 1941, to the late Mabel and Arthur Knight.

As a youth, Issac grew up in the rural outskirts of Tallahassee, Florida. During this time he attended schools in the Leon County Public School System until 8th grade. Subsequent to his schooling, he transitioned to cultivating family farmland in northwest Florida with his father and brothers. In 1959, at the age of 18, he left the Tallahassee area and moved to Ft. Pierce to connect with other relatives and inevitably establish his home.

After his arrival in Ft. Pierce, Issac initially worked with the Department of Transportation. His ambition and drive led him to explore additional opportunities at Vero Hospital and eventually establishing a career at Grumman Aerospace. It was during this time, in 1965, that he met his wife Lillie Denmark.

While pursuing a promising career at Grumman, Issac inadvertently became an artist and Florida Highwaymen. His introduction into landscape painting came as a result of initially being a salesman for fellow Highwaymen artists. It wasn’t until 1968, that Issac began to actually start formally painting for himself. While at Grumman, Issac continued to paint and sell paintings well into the late 1970’s. However, as time continued into the 1980’s, he was resigned to painting only on certain occasions i.e. wedding, house warming, and Christmas gifts.

In the mid-1990’s, Issac retired from Northrop Grumman after 31 years of service. It was this retirement that led to a renaissance and Issac regained his vigor and zeal for painting Florida landscapes. With his newly found excess time and renewed passion for painting, Issac traveled the state exhibiting, displaying and selling his work. By 2004, Isaac and several of his contemporaries were widely acknowledged as being the area's most prominent and premiere self-taught artists and were inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame for Artists. Even after his induction into the Florida Hall of Fame for Artists, Issac continued to paint and share his passion for Florida’s landscape. He actively mentored family members and friends on his unique brand and style of Highwaymen painting.

Upon Issac’s arrive in Fort Pierce, he became a member of New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Eugene Knight. While at New Shiloh, he sang in the choir and worked on the Deacon board . In the 1990’s, he later became a member of Immanuel Full Gospel Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Kenneth Bell, Sr. During his time of service at Immanuel Full Gospel sung in the choir, participated in the devotional prayer services, church outside fun activities, (picnics, fun trips, Painting session, etc) he was Chairman of the Deacon Board.

On February 17, 2022, Issac had to leave all cares, all future plans, all dreams and all love ones behind because God saw fit to call him home. God gently closed his eyes for eternal rest. Issac was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Mabel Knight; sister Ruther-Mae Knight, brothers Otis Knight, Samuel Knight, and Alfonso Knight.

Issac’s infectious smile and upbeat personality will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of his; wife, Lillie Knight, son, Cedric (Keri) Knight, daughter, Tiffany Knight, granddaughters, Sydney Knight, Desirae Knight, grandson Isaac Knight brothers, Arthur Knight, (predeceased Otis Knight, Samuel Knight, Alfonso Knight) sister, (predeceased Ruther-Mae Knight), brother in laws, (predeceased Aaron Denmark, Willis (Ollie) Denmark, James (Thelma) Denmark, Connell (Carrie) Denmark, John Denmark) sister in laws, Betty Knight, (predeceased Theda Denmark, Ruby (Homer) Boston, Emma (Dan) Morris, Juanita Ganious, Corine (BJ) Newson, Maggie (Clayton) Grier, Clara (Bobby) Kleckley, Bernice (Micheal) McDonald), a host of nieces nephews, cousins and special friends who will miss him dearly.

Public visitation for Isaac Knight will take place on Friday, February 25, 2022 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Immanuel Full Gospel Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, FL. Funeral services will convene on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Immanuel Full Gospel Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 11:00am. Burial will immediately follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

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