SEXYSISSyDHolts LSHIn LMLNAP's blog: "SISSYS"

created on 10/14/2006 | http://fubar.com/sissys/b13833

posted on 12/13/2007&nbs-08:00;@&nbs-08:00;04:12&nbs-08:00;am

IN MEMORY DeMarcus Thomas-RIP
http://fubar.com/in-memory-demarcus-thomas-rip/b13833-645581

http://www.journal-news.com/news/mplayer/news/48146 HAMILTON — Neighbors are calling 12-year-old DeMarcus Thomas a hero.

imikimi - Customize Your World "He saved his sister...he got her out," said neighbor Carrie Parker. "He was a hero... I truly believe that with all my heart." Get latest headlines via RSS feeds DeMarcus, a sixth-grader at Adams Elementary, was killed early Wednesday morning in a fire that destroyed a duplex on Hueston Street in Hamilton and left six other people homeless. His sister, Deona Thomas, 11, was able to jump out the second-story window of the burning home into the arms of a neighbor. Carrie Parker's daughter, Casie Parker, 15, said she remembers playing four-square with DeMarcus after he moved into the neighborhood several years ago. "DeMarcus was nice and he was so sweet ... and funny, extremely funny," Casie said. As teachers, friends and neighbors talked about the young man, who's favorite color was Hamilton High School blue, tears alternated with smiles as they recounted stories about his "wonderful" sense of humor, his love for his family and football and his dream of playing on the HHS football team. "He was a gifted athletic," said Chad Riddick, his Hamilton Little Blue coach for the past three years. "Toughest one around ever. Coaches would come on the field and shake his hand and look at you and say, 'where did you get this kid?'" "The sky was the limit, he could have played pro ball if he wanted to," Riddick predicted. "You couldn't stop him from doing anything he wanted to do." Many of the students in his class at Adams Elementary have been with DeMarcus since they were in first grade, said his teacher, Debbie Howard. "DeMarcus was the kind of student who found enjoyment out of everyday," Howard said. "He always tried hard and he had a tremendous sense of humor. "Even at the end of the day he would be ready to joke and kid around." Many of the students said, "I've been in class with him since first grade and you know there wasn't a day that went by that he wasn't cracking some kind of joke," Howard said. The school district's Crisis Response Team — including 15 school psychologists and counselors — was at the school to support students and staff members, as well as parents who needed to talk about how to support their children in this grieving process, said district administrator Bill Valerius. Team members visited classrooms and talked to students. Individuals who needed one-on-one time with counselors were directed to another setting so that they could talk about their feelings confidentially. "The most important thing for parents is to encourage their children to express their feelings and to support them through the grieving process," Valerius said. "And to be there to support their child — to hold them and to love them." Friends of the Thomases said the family lost all of its possessions in the fire, including this year's Christmas gifts. A memorial fund account is expected to be opened today at the Chaco Credit Union.

Report as NSFW [?]

139 views 0 comments view comments