Filed under: Religion | Tags: bartram trail, bths, jessy pitts, sr13 accident, taylor brennan
Sunday night on SR 13, Jessy Pitts and Taylor Brennan passed from earth to eternity. Taylor attended Element, our high school church youth group, over the past year with Chanin, Brittany, Marisa, and many of their friends. I taught Jessy when he was a Freshman at BTHS, before he moved to Georgia. I’d seen him a couple times the past year, as Chanin brought him to church. At Element this week, students will be watching home video, singing songs, writing notes and cards, and just ‘being together’ as part of a night of remembrance. Nothing can do justice to remember these 2….Jessy was 18…Taylor’s 18th birthday is January 20. Rachel and I had lunch with Taylor just a few weeks ago at Akaya on 210…she was such a trip…a kidder…and went on and on about her adventures in studyhall with “Lindsey Gaahhhhhdna.”
Over the next few days, so many people will tell stories about these 2 great kids. I hope to relay a couple of those stories, both here (in the comments under this blog) and in church services later this week. If you’re a friend of either (or both), feel free to leave comments/notes here, and we’ll be sure to get them to the families. For now, I’ll leave this note about Taylor, and will say more about her and Jessy in the blogs and comments to come.
Taylor- your friends sat around last night at Chanin’s watching videos of you singing songs wit her and Brittany together. When you sang, “I’m leavin” by Jesse McCartney, I just sat there in disbelief. You’ve left. Your absence was so obvious in that room…a gaping blank place in that circle of your friends, a missing laugh in each round of chuckles as you and Chanin sang even when Brittany fell asleep. Every room of your friends is less vibrant, less alive…
“Someone said that you know a saint
By how alive they make you feel
Not by how much they show to you
But by how little they conceal
You left us with broken hearts and souls
Our hope is feebly attempting to temper it
We lost so much more than skin and bone
You are the world as best as I remember it.” -Steve Stockman
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To Jessy’s Family- I taught your son for a year back in 05-06. Even though he was something of a rebel…(he really wanted to drive to school everyday, even though it was against the rules for Freshmen)…he was a joy to have as a student…and yes, he really liked to miss class. He was never disrespectful to me….always honored me as a teacher, and even visited me after his freshman year to check in. I know he squeezed every bit of enjoyment out of life…and always wanted to share that joy with his friends. He is-and will be- sorely missed.
Comment by Big John January 14, 2009 @ 11:47 amWhat up, Element St. John’s Crew?
During times of loss, we can pull comfort from the promises of God. He promises that Taylor and Jessy are with Jesus now, and have joined in the Great Cloud of Witnesses that are cheering us on from His side!
I’m praying for you to feel God’s peace like never before. We all love you and we are gonna have a special time of prayer for you tonight in our worship session.
For Jesus,
Pastor J Wyatt and your Midtown Element Family
Comment by john January 14, 2009 @ 1:40 pmReaching Out
I feel your pain and long to touch the hurt and make it melt away.
Comment by Yevette Lash January 14, 2009 @ 2:01 pmYes, I know that I can’t really see the breadth and depth of this dark valley you’re in.
I can’t truly know just how sharp the knife is in your soul – for it is you in its path, not me.
But I have known other valleys and in my heart still bear knife-wound scars.
Even so,
I would walk your road and take your pain if I could
I cannot.
And yet, perhaps in some way
I can be a hand to hold in the darkness;
in some way, try to blunt the sharpness of pain.
But if not – it may help a little just to know I care.
thank you for the heartfelt words John and Yevette. God will shine in the darkness…no matter how big this shadow of death is.
Comment by Big John January 14, 2009 @ 2:46 pmTo the Families of Jessy and Taylor and to their friends, I didnt know them as well as you all did, but I can say a couple things I saw over the past several days. I sat with the youth at channins house, I listended to all the stories the good ones and the funny ones about school and pranks etc. As I scanned the room surrounded by people crying and in total shock, I can say that Jessy and Taylor didnt leave this world without making their mark on all of those souls that knew and loved them. They left so many with such precious and wonderful memories to carry on with each day. I have a son, and as I went to the homes I wanted to say something that would ease the pain, but I understand that there are no words that can be spoken to a parent when they loose a child. I cant say I know how that feels, I cant make it right again, the only thing I know to do at a time like this is just to open my arms to who ever needs them. Im here for you all with open arms….
Comment by Yevette Lash January 14, 2009 @ 4:06 pmThis year I have been surrounded by thoughts of death a lot everything from RILEY to my father having Lekumia….Through that journey I have learned to look at death in a different way……I know that Jesse and Taylor left this earth early and in a hard way to think about, but think about this……Taylor and Jesse are with Jesus right now…..I mean they are with Jesus and He is telling them how much He loves them and how proud of them he is……I bet if you were to seem them now they would tell us all….How their death was worth it to be with Him because no matter how much we loved them He loves us so much more.
In My Prayers,
Comment by Turner January 14, 2009 @ 6:51 pmJosh