Johnathan Bell Memorial Concert Planned
By Ashton Crocker
As many of you know, this community lost two young lives on February 28, 2013. Johnathan Bell and Kevin Camp were on their way to baseball practice at Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga. when a tree fell across their truck and took both of their lives.
Johnathan’s family has established a scholarship in his name to help carry his legacy for years to come.
If you knew Johnathan, you remember how loving and giving he was. If you didn’t have the pleasure of knowing this young man, he is described by his sister Trisha Reid as “charismatic, hard working, admirable, and determined.”
In a recent letter Trisha writes, “He had a smile that would make you melt and you never saw him without it. J.B. had an infectious spirit that made it impossible to be in a bad mood around him. He was one of those people that you just loved instantly.
“J.B. was a country boy to his core. Growing up, Johnathan always dreamed of playing baseball, that’s all he ever wanted to do. He played recreation, middle and high school baseball. He was always a great player with huge heart and an intense passion for the game. J.B. worked hard at everything he did and he never took no for an answer.
“If he wasn’t in school, he was running my Dad’s little lawn care business and working until dark. His work ethic was one of his most admirable qualities. Many times during the summer, J.B. would pull up to baseball practice with the lawn trailer behind his truck because he had been working all morning.
“He would practice for hours and then go back to work when practice was over. His hard work paid off in 2012 when he graduated from Jasper County Comprehensive High School with an academic scholarship and a commitment to Brewton Parker College to play baseball. He thought that if he couldn’t play forever, he would go to college and choose a profession that would afford him the opportunity to coach high school baseball one day.
“J.B. left for college in Mount Vernon Georgia last August and loved every minute of it. He instantly made friends in the small college town, even convincing some to come home with him on the weekends to work. J.B. would make that three-hour drive home to Monticello every weekend so that he could help Daddy cut grass and to see his Mama, then on Sunday he would drive 3-hours back to Mount Vernon for school, and he never complained about it.
“He would arrive home with a huge smile, a bear hug, and a bag of dirty laundry and leave on Sunday with clean underwear, a full belly, and a little money in his pocket. Johnathan and Kevin’s deaths devastated two communities,” says Ms. Reid.
“Today in either small town, Monticello or Mount Vernon, you will see someone wearing orange and blue bracelets with “J.B. and K.C. 2-28-13” engraved in them. Johnathan was such a beautiful soul with such potential that I hurt not only for our family, but for all of the lives that he will never have the opportunity to impact, because I believe without a doubt, he would have made a difference in so many lives. We were, and continue to be, so very proud of the man that he had become.”
On Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 we will host a concert in memory of Johnathan Bell. All profits from the event will be put into the Johnathan Bell Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will give Johnathan a chance to make a difference in the lives of young people for years to come. His life was taken far too early, but his love and gracious spirit will live on forever.
The Johnathan Bell Memorial Concert will be held at the Shady Dale rodeo grounds from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m., and will feature several local artists. This event will be family oriented with bouncy houses, inflatable slides, cotton candy, and more for the children.
We will have full concessions throughout the entire day. BBQ sandwich plates and chicken plates will be sold prior to the concert. More information on this is to come. Admission the day of the concert is $10 per person. You can purchase tickets in advance for only $8 per person. Children 12 and under receive free admission. The tickets will be available for purchase by this Saturday.
The concert will go on rain or shine and no alcohol is allowed. If you are interested in donating or volunteering the day of the event, or if you wish to order plates or concert tickets please contact one of us.
Our contact information is as follows: Jane Hooper at Hooper Trailer Sales, 706-468-8414, Ashton Crocker: ascrocker88@gmail.com, Ashli Anglin: ashbell08@aol.com, Trisha Reid: trisha.reid85@yahoo.com, Stephanie Womack: slwomack4@gmail.com, Tim Womack: Womack.tim10@gmail.com, Candice Shirley: candice.shirley@gmail.com, Pat Whitman: patfishstory@aol.com.
Also, check us out on Facebook by searching for “In Memory and Honor of Johnathan Bell.” We are constantly posting updates regarding this event on that page.
Website is www.john-athanbellmemorial.com.
