RIPLEY, Ohio | "To live in hearts we leave behind, Is not to die."
When 19th-century Scottish poet Thomas Campbell wrote those words, context suggests he was referring to the intangible impact some people make, ensuring they are remembered and cherished after their death.
The late Ravye Williams certainly falls into that category -- just look at what's going on at the Ripley city courts and talk to some of Williams' many acquaintances.
But it doesn't stop there, as Williams is still tangibly making a difference, too. If all goes as planned, he will have literally left his own heart and other organs behind to keep some organ donation recipients alive.
Williams, 19, died Sunday at University Hospital in Cincinnati after a car accident on U.S. 52 in Clermont County on Saturday. When the U.S. Army Reserves member and former three-sport Ripley Blue Jays athlete is laid to rest Friday, his body will be without its heart, lungs, kidneys and more, as those organs are slated for donation.
That's just the way he would have wanted it, family, friends and coaches said.
"It was my decision to do so because that's all he ever did is help people," said Desree Marshall, Williams' mother. "And I know that since he wasn't here to continue to do what he's always done, helping people, then since he's no longer here (and) there's nothing wrong with his organs or anything like that, he would want to continue to do so if it was possible."
Jarrin Taul, 19, of Ripley was Williams' longtime teammate on the basketball floor and soccer field.
He described Williams as such: "He's my best friend. He's my brother. I've known him since I was, like, 3. ... He's my hero, personally. He's always been in my life."
Taul, whose mother died during his youth, recalled how Williams helped him during that time.
"When my mom passed away, he was by my side and he was there for me. He was crying with me," Taul said. "We just talked and talked. I respect him so much, and it's sad to lose him. He's in a better place now, though."
Williams made a significant impact on Ripley sports, playing basketball, baseball and soccer with the Blue Jays. He first earned significant basketball playing time his sophomore year, and when that caused some hurt feelings, Williams proved his mettle as a leader immediately.
"He just had heart, and it helped us so much," Taul said. "He was like the backbone of the team, basically. That helped us out a lot."
Marty Adams, Ripley's current coach, first joined the program as a volunteer assistant in 1997 and said Williams was one of the best floor generals he could remember.
"He was the calm during the storm. If things got out of hand, he was always the one that would take control," Adams said. "He was mature on the floor and on the soccer field well beyond his years. He was that guy that everybody looked up to to see what to do next.
"I've never seen a guy be that composed and have that leadership by example and (be) able to be that leader without bringing people down or bad-mouthing or anything. The kids really respected him in that manner all the time."
Greg Himes, formerly Southern State Community College's basketball coach, recruited Williams for the Patriots. Williams elected to go into the Army reserves instead, but not before leaving an impression on the coach.
"You just know that Ravye, he was just a tough individual as a kid, such a nice individual, and what he had given up ... he decided to go to the military instead of going to college, and you just know that he was a giving individual, just because how many kids are gonna give up the opportunity to play college sports and go into the military instead?" Himes asked rhetorically.
Himes took note of Williams' disposition right off during the recruiting process.
"You always knew Ripley had great support, and they all love Ravye," he said. "I used to kid him about the cheerleaders chanting his name when he was shooting free throws and Ravye would just laugh about it, kinda like he was embarrassed. He was a very, very humble individual."
Southern State soccer coach Josh Thoroman also recruited Williams to play on the pitch for the Patriots. He said the then-high school senior came off as a "young person making some good decisions early on."
Kennedy called Williams "as good a role model in 23 years of coaching that I ever had."
"He was always early for practice, was always ready for practice, was the best teammate, maybe the most unselfish player I ever coached," Kennedy said. "When you look back at his stats, there'd be a game where he may shoot three times and we'd win that game by 20 points. In a game against a really good opponent where he really had to score, he may come up with 18 or 20 points because he had to, but he certainly wasn't out there for the stats. He just did whatever he had to do for us to win."
Blue Jays athletic director Jeff Wilson said Williams' leadership inspired his peers.
"He just brought a different energy," Wilson said. "He was always encouraging the teammates. When kids were down, he'd say, 'Come on, try a little harder.' First one to practice, last one to leave. That infectious energy just rubbed off on everybody.
"I got an email from one of our volunteer softball coaches. Her kids play at Eastern, and she said he always had a kind word to say to her two sons ... when they came to Ripley. He always spoke to other kids and was just a positive role model."
Learning that Williams' organs would be donated surprised no one.
"That's just the way Ravye was," Adams said. "He was that type of kid. He brightened a room with a smile, he'd give you the shirt off his back, pick you up when you're down, and he'd give all he could in life and now in death he's given too."
Taul chimed in: "He would want to do that. He was really helpful to everybody. Words cannot truly explain it."
Kennedy, who left Ripley after Williams' senior season to become the principal at St. James (La.) High School near New Orleans, agreed.
"That's typical of his personality. He was very unselfish," Kennedy said. "It's kind of hard for me to talk about because I thought so much of him, but it doesn't surprise me that he's donating his organs, because he just helped everybody. He wanted to help everybody."
Wilson concluded: "Someone's getting a good heart because he had it."
From: Zack Klemme | The Ledger Independent
No comments:
Post a Comment