The Official Russell Groff Story
This “Official Russell Groff Web Site,” has been set up to tell the true life story of our precious son, Russell.
Russell died tragically, from HIV/AIDS on November 23, 2004. His death shattered our lives…… nothing will ever be the same without him. Things look and seem normal around us, but nothing feels normal. Russell is gone, and will not be back. Life as it was, will never be the same. We cannot see, touch him, or hear his voice againm until we get to Heaven. We do know, we will see him again in Heaven, and that is what sustains us.
Russell’s precious life, was needlessly cut short and wasted, because of the homosexual lifestyle. We loved and adored Russell so much, he was always such a beautiful bright spot in our lives. He was very comical, and entertained us all the time, when he was around.
We couldn’t tell him the gay lifestyle was acceptable to us, as we knew it was not acceptable to God. We talked to him about the scriptures, along with how it hurt us to see him destroying his life. Later, we were to find more about this religion he got involved with. It turned his spiritual thinking, into believing Satan’s lies. His mind was completely clouded and confused by the people he became involved with.
Our worries about this lifestyle, soon became the tradgedy we could never have imagined. His Dad and I tried to talk to him about this lifestyle, but those around him, kept him from listening to us. They told him we did not love him, or we would accept his lifestyle.
Russell had a low immune system and we warned him about AIDS. He did not want to listen to us, he had already been so brainwashed, by the time we found out what was going on. He had been told by Kevin and his parents, and the Quakers, (Religous Societ of Friends) that we did not love him or we would accept who he was. This made it very hard for us to deal with getting him out of the lifestyle.
Russell was convinced by those around him, he was born gay. This is one of Satan’s greatest lies. No one is born gay, it is a choice! No scientific evidence has ever proven this lie. The “church” he went to really confused him, they embraced the homosexual lifesyle.
Russell graduated in 2000, with a double major from Maryville College. Russell’s partner quickly moved him away from Tennessee to Baltimore. Moving him so far away, was to get him away from the influence of his family. Russell was always happy when he came home for a visit, and this made Kevin jealous.
Kevin knew many people in Baltimore, who were involved in the homosexual lifestyle, he attended a Quaker college there, where they embrace homosexual behavior.. We believe this was Kevin’s way of making sure, Russell was alienated from his family. Only four years after moving to Baltimore, Russell would die an early, tragic death from AIDS. This was after six ( we are not sure if Russell was involved before he was 18 years old) years of being in the lifestyle.
Those who knew Russell, loved him. He was a caring, intelligent, happy, fun loving young (Christian, led astray) man, whose life took a tragic detour.
We know Russell struggled with the choice he had made, because he was raised with moral and values that were embedded into his precious heart.
Russell always excelled in anything he did. He became a black belt in Karate, won many awards, trophies and metals. He was an award winning speaker and writer. Russell loved art, and loved painting in watercolors when he was only in his preteens, he was an amazing person, who had real zest for life.
Russell was active in scouting,(his dad was a scout leader when he was in cub scouts). Russell won many awards, trophies and badges. He collected boy scout collectibles, they are still in his room. He was active in many things and excelled in all he did.
He has so many awards, I cannot display all of them, so I have made a photo and scrap book, two volumes.
Russell loved fishing, and was doing this when he as barely able to hold a fishing pole. He grew up fishing in a big pond at our farm, catching bass, bluegill and catfish. He and his siblings all enjoyed fishing, and learning the art as they grew up. We often took them to lakes and rivers too. Russell enjoyed camping, hiking, and many outdoor activities.
The last time we took Russell fishing, was in 2001.This was when he came home, to get away from the lifestyle. He caught several trout on that fishing trip, it was a memorable day for us. As we look back, it gave us some time to enjoy him and forget about the life he was living.
We know Russell enjoyed being with us, it was wonderful to be with him. We savored every minute of the time we had with Russell.
Russell usually didn’t talk much about the lifestyle, when he was around us; but on this trip he did talk about a few things, just letting words drift into a conversation. I was so afraid I would say something wrong, but we seemed to be able to talk about things very easily. I did feel his desire to make a break from the lifestyle.
I think of so many things we could have said, but I don’t know if it would have helped or not. Everything we said to him was degraded by those around him. Our hearts hurt so much, but we had to try to hide the hurt, in order to be able to see Russell. We knew that everything we said would be used to help alienate him from us. We tried so hard to show him how much we loved him, and he feel he knew that. We were not well informed about how to talk to him, and went only with our hearts.
I would tell nay parent to get informed about this homosexual agenda, because the more you know, the more you can help your loved one.
We asked Russell, when he was home, if he went fishing up there in Baltimore, (where there is a lot of water access) and Russell said, “I don’t get to go, because Kevin doesn’t like to fish.” Sounds like he was controlled about everything. I placed a copy of the picture of him with his trout at his grave, it was taken, like every thing we put there.
Russell and his sister used to volunteer with meals on wheels, and spent time serving meals to the homeless. They were very close and always did a lot of things together. Russell had a really good heart and loved helping people. He helped coach middle school basketball while in high school. He tutored math students.
Memories are stirred up, when we look at his things he left at home. I spend a lot of time crying, and I can see the pain in his dad’s eyes when we talk about Russell. There is not a day that goes by, that we do not talk about Russell.
In school, Russell always had many friends. Russell was voted as, “Who’s Who” of his senior class. Russell was never one to brag about himself, but he always said, ”He received his inspiration from God.” I just wish he would have stayed on the right track, and he could have done anything he wanted with his life.
Russell became a born again Christian and baptized into the Baptist faith at the age of 12. He loved the Lord, and always gave God credit for his achievements. When he got involved in the homosexual lifestyle, his spirituality was used to lure him into thinking things that were not of God. By God’s Amazing Grace, Russell is forgiven, and he is in a better place, where we will see him again one day. It is his family, who loved him so dearly, whose hearts are broken, and aching for the loss of their son. It was stated in the court documents, he was a confessing Christian when he died.
In high school, Russell was Vice-President of his senior class, which was an honor for him, because this was by popular vote. He was selected as a Profitt’s Trendsetter, (by facility) because he had such a great personality, and his brilliant mind. He wanted to do this, because one of his female friends was going to be in it. I thought they would be an item, as much as he liked her.
It was strange, Russell a trendsetter, when he was so happy to go to a thrift store and buy used shirts or pants. He was very thrifty, and thought it was a real thrill to shop like this. He was so handsome, it did not matter what he had on. He looked good in anything he wore. He was a clean cut and handsome young man.
Russell had one of his poems published in a national publication, while in high school. This particular poem was about his grandfather and great grandfather. Some of the memories told him by his mother, inspired this poem called the “Hierarchy Theory.” The family should have gotten copyrights to these works of Russell’s, (we believe, Russell did leave these to the family). Facts prove he made a previous will, and one day we will let everyone know about this.
Russell stated in his year book that he had aspirations of going to law school, to study corporate law. His getting involved in this homosexual lifestyle, caused him to lose everything, including his life.
While in high school, Russell’s best friend Emily, (since second grade) was his date to many festivities, some of which was Homecoming festivities, as well as Junior and Senior proms. Russell was in the top 10 of his class. He participated in the scholars bowl, and was a member of the student council. He was design editor of the 1996 year book, and worked relentlessly with Emily, (who was the Editor) to have a great year book.
He was well respected by his teachers, and they wrote him very nice letters for scholarships to college.
Russell was also editor of a newsletter where he worked for the summer during high school. Anything he did, he tried hard to do the best job he could.
We can’t remember all of the awards Russell has gotten over the years, but they are all in his room, as he left them. He enjoyed almost everything, and his zest for life will always be engraved in our hearts and lives. He loved Garfield, and he had a collection of Garfield memorabilia.
The world has lost a very talented young man, who had so much potential. It was all such a waste because of lies.
In college Russell belonged to the Maryville College Choir. He had a beautiful voice. Russell was very musically inclined. In high school he played a silver trumpet.
A parent’s love is from God, and we loved our son unconditionally, but we would not accept the homosexual lifestyle he chose. Embracing the lifestyle, would be like us telling him a lie. If you love your child, you do not tell him lies.
Be sure to visit excerpts from Russell’s life, on the right side of this story.
Lowell and Carolyn Groff
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalm 119:9-10 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from they commandments.”