Standing on the Centennial High School football field with lighted candles, hundreds huddled around the center of the turf to honor the life of senior wide receiver Jim Cheek.
Another tribute happened across town at the Independence-Brentwood High School game when light blue balloons floated into the sky in honor of the young man, who was killed in the crash of a small off road vehicle earlier this week on private property in Dickson County.
Moments before the tributes began, classmates and friends stood on the steps of the CHS Performing Arts Center, sharing memories of Cheek, who passed away on Monday.
Childhood best friend Kyle Brennan said he would always remember Cheek’s spirit – his goodwill, his kindness and his hilarity.
“My favorite thing about Jim was his compassion,” Brennan said. “He had compassion for our classmate Jaden who has autism. He called me yesterday, and told me that we are going to see him again. I can’t wait to see him again, and that is what is keeping me going.”
Brennan asked his family if he could wear No. 18, Cheek’s number, during the upcoming baseball season, one of the two sports Cheek played.
Beside Brennan stood his friend Corey Gamble in a blue shirt. He and Cheek got shirts in Honduras. Gamble said Cheek had to give him a hard sell to even buy the shirt, and use the last of his money.
“He was like, ‘Corey, hunger is temporary. But these shirts will last forever,'” Gamble said, invoking the crowd to laugh. “I asked him where I am going to wear it. He told me anywhere was perfectly acceptable.”
Gamble and others learned of Cheek’s death late Monday into Tuesday. He said that he went through a myriad of emotions, particularly when he was watching the news segment on Cheek’s death earlier this week.
“I was sitting there watching,” Gamble said. “He doesn’t want me to sit here and be crying. He was tapping God on the shoulder going, ‘Look God, I made the news.'”
Emily West covers Franklin, education, and high school football for the Franklin Home Page. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.
