NATCHEZ — Samuel Griffin and his Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite marching band brought life to Alcorn State University’s Natchez campus.

The former Alcorn Director of Bands died Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, at the age of 71.

A viewing will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Word of Faith Christian Center in Vicksburg with a 1 p.m. memorial service.

Griffin led the band from 1969 until his retirement in 2012. He is described as a vibrant, uplifting and understanding soul.

Theresa Irving got to know Griffin during her 19 years as the director of a dorm housing most of the band’s female members.

Irving said Griffin would go above and beyond his role as a bandleader, often checking up on band members just to see how they were doing.

“Many times he came over to the dormitory to check on the girls or just to visit to talk,” Irving said.

Irving said during her time spent as the dorm’s director from 1990-2009, Griffin and his band “livened the campus up” and created some of the best memories.

“The most memorable thing about Mr. Griffin is his smiles and marching behind the band during band camp,” Irving said.

“He would march the band around the horseshoe on campus. A lot of us would run outside just to see the band.”

But in addition to leading a successful band, Griffin made sure to lead his band members through life, Irving said.

“I think he was like a father figure to them,” Irving said.

Many former students described Griffin as a “father figure.”

Current Alcorn Director of Bands Dr. Renardo Murray experienced that quality firsthand as Griffin’s student.

Not only was Griffin the director back when Murray played in the band, but the two had a special mentor-tutor relationship.

“Mr. Griffin was my academic advisor at Alcorn,” Murray said.

From the time he stepped under Griffin’s tutelage at Alcorn, Murray said his mentor was there for him every step of the way. Murray said Griffin had a knack for lending support during life’s toughest moments.

“He was always there for advice. Even as I was at Ole Miss working on my Ph.D., he would call and tell me ‘Just hang in there. You’re going to be all right. You can handle it,’” Murray said.

Calling Griffin “an Alcorn icon,” Murray said Griffin brought hard work and leadership qualities to his work every day of his more than 40 years as director of bands.

“Not only was he an Alcorn icon, but he developed an icon with the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite, one of the jewels of Mississippi and one of the jewels of the United States,” Murray said.

“We’re going to dedicate this season and the seasons moving forward in (Griffin’s) legacy, and we are going to make sure the Mr. Griffin will absolutely never be forgotten.”