Wednesday, family, friends and the Pearl River Central High School football team paid their final respects to 16-year-old Shane Smith of Carriere who passed away last Friday.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Master Sgt. Brent Barfield said on July 24 at 3:08 p.m. Smith’s vehicle, which was traveling in the north bound lane of Hwy. 589 in Lamar County, veered off the right side of the road into a ditch. The crash happened about one mile south of WPA Road, Barfield said. The vehicle struck a tree on the driver’s side, he said.
Smith was transported by ground to Forrest General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that evening, Barfield said.
According to his obituary, Smith was a student at PRC High School and wore the #15 jersey on the football field. He was an honor roll student and a member of the Principal’s List. He is the son of Shannon Lavon Smith Sr., and Amanda Boleware.
PRC Football Coach Eric Collins described Smith as a tough, hard-nosed, tenacious and dedicated football player.
“Anything that was good about a football player, he embodied,” Collins said. “ He was a coach’s dream player and he had character. This upcoming season, he was going be a starting linebacker.”
Collins said Smith was consistent, which is rare in a day and age where young adults can be a certain way one day and another the next.
“If you had a son, you could model him after Shane Smith,” Collins said.
Smith was great on and off the field, Collins said.
“He was a great student,” Collins said. “And if he thought you needed a hug, he would give you a great big bear hug. If there was an after party, you never had to worry about Shane, you always knew he going to do the right thing.”
Collins said from his parents to coaches to teammates, the grieving has been tremendous. Wednesday, members of the football team wore their team jerseys as they said goodbye to their teammate.
“He was a beautiful Christian young man,” Collins said. “More importantly, there’s no doubt in my mind where he is right now and that needs to be a comfort to everyone who knew him.”