|
Leon G. Russ
HOMETOWN NEWS
It was nearly two years to the day that Jeffery and Kitty Goforth received the terrible news that their two youngest children had perished in an automobile accident.
While two years have passed, the joy that J.R. and Brittany brought to their lives and numerous others’ lives on and was celebrated on Saturday, May 9 during the first J.R. and Brittany Goforth Day at Boiling Springs High School’s 9th Grade Campus.
The event was held at the campus, said Kitty, because it was a place that was near and dear to both her children.
County Councilman O’Neal Mintz was on hand to read a proclamation from Spartanburg County Council that he presented to the Goforth family.
Those in attendance also heard remarks from the Goforth family, were led in prayer by Bishop Nathan Robinson of the Mount Zion Full Gospel Baptist Church and were entertained by the Pink Diamond Dancers.
Following the ceremony, there were refreshments and J.R. and Brittany’s favorite games and hobbies were available for their friends to enjoy.
Tiffany Goforth said she was “touched” when she found out about the day for her siblings and said it was well deserved.
“It was good to have this day,” she said, “but I’d rather have them here.” As she looked around and saw so many of J.R. and Britanny’s friends running around enjoying the day and their lives, she smiled and said, “They are living on through everyone here.”
Her father Jeffrey agreed that it was good to see so many children at the campus enjoying the day. He called it a combination of a community day and “a celebration of my two babies” lives.
Seeing all of his children’s friends, Jeffrey said, “It’s like a release, they’re here sharing their love and letting us know they are remembered.”
The day cut both ways as Kitty noted, “It’s a joyful day but bittersweet.”
The Goforth’s hope to make J.R. and Brittany Goforth Day an annual event that will celebrate two lives that created a legacy of citizenship, friendship, sportsmanship, togetherness and leadership in the community.
Kitty said, “they were true leaders who didn’t like to see anyone sad.”
Fourteen - year - old Starr Johnston was a close friend of Brittany’s. She recalled finding out about her friends passing and “feeling like a piece of me died.”
On this day Johnston said, “It’s a beautiful thing to see so many people out here celebrating their lives.”
Alexis Moss, a 16 - year - old junior at Boiling Springs High School was friends with J.R. She remembered May 5, 2007 because “my phone was blowing up with calls.” When she heard the news she said, “I cried my eyes out.” She recalled J.R., “He was always a happy person,” and he would be glad to see everyone enjoying the day.
J.R. was 14 and Brittany 12 when they were killed in an automobile accident on Nazareth Church Road along with their uncle, Maurice Rodgers.
lruss@hometown-news.com
 Email This Post
|
