Steve Griffith is seen during a county commission meeting on October 18, 2010.

Efforts to expand long-term mental health treatment in Cullman County will get a boost this week when the family of the late attorney Stephen Griffith presents a large donation to the Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation.

The $25,000 check on Wednesday will establish the Stephen K. Griffith Memorial Fund. The presentation will be made at 10 a.m. at WellStone Cullman’s office at 1909 Commerce Ave., NW.

Griffith was shot and killed in a bizarre and isolated incident by a Cullman County man whom law enforcement believes had become obsessed with Griffith’s legal practice. The two men had never met; Griffith had never represented the man, or any party adversarial to him, at law. On the evening of July 17, 2017, the man came to Griffith’s home, gained entry, and pulled out a pistol and shot Griffith.

In the ensuing investigation, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office said the attacker was mentally unstable. He had come to Griffith’s home, according to law enforcement, after incorrectly persuading himself that Griffith had been secretly involved in altering the outcome of a minor criminal matter against him — one that took place more than two decades ago.

“Steve Griffith was and still is incredibly respected by our community. His death was a tragedy that will not be forgotten. The Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation Board of Directors has the distinct privilege to help the Griffith family establish and grow a memorial fund in his honor. We deeply appreciate the Griffith family’s generosity and their vision to invest in preventative services for the Cullman community,”  Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation Treasurer and WellStone Chief Operating Officer Chris Van Dyke said. “WellStone and the Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation are leading a local coalition to plan for long term expansion of treatment availability, with the ultimate goal of providing local, 24/7 access to care for those facing mental health issues and acute crises.”

Griffith had practiced law in Cullman for 49 years.

The Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation is asking the community to contribute to the Stephen K. Griffith Memorial Fund to honor Griffith and his family as well as to help expand mental health services in Cullman County. 

Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

Cullman resident Neal Morrison, a former legislator and a member of former Gov. Robert Bentley’s administration, has been speaking around the area, along with Van Dyke, encouraging community leaders to step up and fund expanded mental health care services. Members of the coalition working to expand care have noted that Cullman County has experience a rise in suicides and mental health care cases that require long-term care.

The state and federal governments have reduced funding while mental health issues are on the rise. Finding available beds at hospitals that offer treatment is an ongoing problem.

Donations can be made to:

Stephen K. Griffith Memorial Fund

c/o Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation

P.O. Box 2186

Cullman AL, 35056.

David Palmer may be contacted at 256-734-2131, ext. 116.