The color of the uniforms around the stadium at Quillman Field on the campus of the Pinckneyville Community High School Tuesday morning were not expected to be the storied Chamberlain blue.
Instead--it will be camouflage--representing the love that 16-year-old Garrett Williams had for the great outdoors.
The morning memorial service is a time to bring together everything that’s good about the Pinckneyville Community High School: its administrators, its staff and certainly its students.
“There is a lot of arm-in-arm around here today,” said PCHS superintendent Keith Hagene on Monday, obviously proud of the caring and sensitivity shown by everyone on the first day back to class after the death of 16-year-old student athlete Garrett Williams Saturday night.
Garrett was killed in a single vehicle truck accident three miles north of Tamaroa shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Garrett is the son of Lorie Sanders and husband David of Tamaroa, and his father, Larry Williams, and fiance Sharon of Carrier Mills.
The accident is still under investigation by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the St. Bruno Catholic Church in Pinckneyville with Fr. Christian Iwauyagu and Colin Hirsch officiating.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the St. Bruno Catholic Church in Pinckneyville and from 8:30 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at the church.
Burial will be in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery at Tamaroa.
Friends may make memorials to the Pinckneyville High School wresting team or baseball team and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa is in charge of arrangements.
Garrett was a member of the wrestling and baseball teams at school. He enjoyed mudding, hunting, and climbing trees. Garrett participated in 4-H. He was an avid baseball player and was a member of St. Bruno’s Catholic Church in Pinckneyville.
St. Bruno’s was expected to be involved in Tuesday’s memorial at the stadium.
The loss of the Pinckneyville student is numbing, “But this service will show everyone what this school is made of,” said Supt. Hagene. “We are the PCHS Family,” he said.
And, it’s a great family. At every turn the school shows its caring for students, for active, sick and retiring staff members and for the community.
“Our students have chosen to wear camouflage Tuesday,” said Hagene. “Garret loved the outdoors.”
Support for students ran deep on Monday, with staff members and counselors all being made available to students if they were needed.
“We have to love these kids,” Hagene said. “If a student throws his arms up and needs a hug, you hug ‘em,” he said. Tuesday’s memorial will be special, because Pinckneyville Community High School has always been a special place for young people. “We do love them,” Hagene said, and Tuesday’s service will leave no doubt.”
