Please take the time out to read about student Joshua Griffin. The 24 year-old attended Langston University and was finalizing his bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences. Although he walked with his class, Joshua was a few credits short and was completing an internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tragically, he drowned last week in Oklahoma.
According to reports, Joshua, who was on site with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, fell into a hole after a sand bar collapsed, then slipped into much deeper water before others could rescue him. 
His friend Phaedra sent us this email on Wednesday and I wanted to share it with the CL readers.
Hello Concrete Loop Staff,
The attached picture is Joshua Griffin. He attended Langston University, in Langston, OK, and studied animal science. He graduated in May and was completing an internship. Tragically, on June 15, 2011 he drowned in the Cimarron River in Oklahoma while completing his internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I think it would be awesome if you all could put him on your site. I know Josh personally and he was a really outstanding person. He was very active on campus (singing in the choir/chorale) and played the on the drum-line at Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was also an active member of the Beta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Although he was taken from us so soon, everyone is comforted knowing that he died doing what he loved. We are going to miss him very much.
Joshua’s life is definitely a testament to living your life to the fullest and going after your dreams. His mother and uncle sat down with News 6 in Oklahoma to speak about his life and how they find solace during their time of grief. View that video below.
Joshua’s funeral is being held today (June 23) in Oklahoma. May he rest in peace.
his family is really strong. Rest in peace.
That is so sad. RIP.
This is confirmation that you have to pursue your passion, you never know when it’s your last day…RIP Joshua
I wholeheartedly agree, Sadreaka. RIP Joshua Griffin.
Thank you for posting this CL. Although I didn’t know this gentleman personally, this story touched me to the point of tears. This is so so terribly tragic. May he rest in peace, and may people be inspired by his life to live theirs to the fullest!!!! Strength and best wishes to his family and friends.
well said…so sad…
this is sad to hear. may God bless his family and friends and comfort them in this time of bereavement.
This is such a tragedy…I feel so sorry for his family and it seems he was an ambitious and smart man.
Really sad, but like his friend said he died doing something that he loved, and was accomplishing his dreams. R.I.P
R.I.P Frat.. 06
I knew Joshua personally I first meet him the summer of “02″ at Langston University’s band camp. He was a friend, a brother, and most of all a men of God. He be greatly missed but not forgotten.
Oh wow this is very sad, yet inspiring. RIP Mr.Griffin =’(
Although this is so SAD he lived doing what he loved and he died doing what he loved all in all he was a VERY Unique and Smart Young Man may you R.I.P. Mr.Joshua Griffin
My prayers go out to the family.
What a loss. He seemed very much to be on the right path in life, and was distinctly handsome. I pray for his loved ones. May he rest in peace.
Joshua was a dear friend of mine.. I will always love and remember is big smile….. Thank you for posting this story
He sounds like a wonderful young man to have known. May he rest in paradise, and may the Lord continue to watch and heal his family in this tragic time.
RIP Joshua, my prayers go out to his family and friends.
My prayers are with his family and loved…lived for such a short time but accomplished so much
missing word
Loved ones
Josh was a great person never sad or down or even mad he kept everyone laughing through the hard times R.I.P. Josh not goin to say goodbye but say see u later
My prayers go out to Joshua Griffin’s family and friends. I lost my only uncle suddenly on Tuesday so I know all too well how abruptly a life can end. The message (to do what you love and live life thoroughly) in Joshua’s story has really touched me. It confirmed that I need to pursue something that’s been on my heart to do for a while. Thank you so much for posting this.
That’s so sad and tragic. My condolences to his family.
r.i.p.
Wow….He just graduated. That’s sooo sad
R.I.P. Joshua
R.I.P Hate to see another young brotha taken from us.
Life is fleeting. Enjoy it, while it last.
r i p
I love josh! Its sad he left so soon but I know he is in a better place wit his heavenly father! && that I can rejoice because he won’t have to suffer or deal wit this nonsense on earth! R.I.P. JOSH
Yes Josh will truly be missed. I attend Langston University as well and had the pleasure of knowing him. He was really one of the funniest and down-to-earth people that I met during my freshman year in college. Although he had a bright future ahead of him, he’s in a better place. Please continue to pray for his family, his fraternity brothers, and our school Langston University.
Thank You Phaedra for doing this, Josh was loved by some many people and touchd so many hearts including mine…we are goin to miss you so much Josh and you will never be forgotten…RIP my friend til we meet again <3!!!
R.I.P God Bless his family.
Wow this breaks my heart. How sad. May he RIP.
My prayers go out to the family, and may he rest in peace.
Sorry to hear this sad news and when somebody young dies. I will def say a prayer tonight for him and his peeps.
This is really tragic. It sounds like he was on a path to do great things.
Can I say what everyone else is thinking? D@MN THIS MAN WAS PHYNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are animals. We die like every other creature on this planet. We are not special.
And to think that I woke up this morning and walked to the subway complaining to myself that I was tired and needed a break…this makes me put so many things into perspective. Nothing is promised to ANYONE…so enjoy every day you have.
And to his mother…I commend her and admire her, because true strength is holding it together when everyone expects you to fall apart.
This is so painfully sad to hear. I’m glad that he had found his calling and pursued an education. Rest in Paradise, Joshua.
His mother and uncle appear to be incredibly strong people. Good job raising a man like Joshua.
This is just sad! There’s nothing more sad than losing a productive black man. He was doing something that he loved which makes it even more sad because he had just started. He’s in God’s house now, may you rest in peace!
R.I.P, my condolences to the family.
wow! he just graduated too(thats the sad part) and he just got started with what he had a passion for. I may have not know him but i can tell he truly was a good person. may he rest in peace.my condolences to his family…RIP Joshua Griffin
RIP
Such a tragic loss. My condolences go out to his family. I did not know him, but the story touched me. Looking @ his pictures his smile is so bright and full of life. RIP young man and walk with the Lord
I thought I was gonna read about another dumbass being shot by police or other young black man over some BS.
Like the post said, at least he died doing what he loved. R.I.P and best wishes for his family.
My condolences go out to him and his family..but im puzzled how everytime a young Black Man goes out and do something positive he always, some way or form gets hurt or killed “accidently”..so they say..that my opinion.
Sad. Was there a life jacket or vest? water safety is serious. Too many black folks dying from drowning each year, especially young kids and teens that dont make the news. Sad
This is so sad, trust me he’s in a better place, his family will always be in my prayer. R.I.P Josh
We never know when it is our last minute, time to get real about the good Lord people!
God rest his soul and bless his family with strength.
Rest In Paradise forever.
R.I.P.. Wow such a tragic story..
My heart goes out to the Griffin Family. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. May your family find comfort in the scriptures at Revelation 21: 3, 4 which says, “with that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I missed this. I was starting my internship around the same time RIP wise one.
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