The community is mourning the loss of a Kilmichael teen, who was tragically killed this past weekend.
Robert Crisman “Trey” Campbell, III, 17, of Kilmichael was killed early Sunday morning when his Jeep SUV struck a tree on Highway 407, north of Herring School Road.
A visitation was held Monday evening in the Winona Christian School gymnasium, followed by a candlelight vigil on the Stars football field.
Tuesday, a funeral was held at 10 a.m. at Kilmichael Baptist Church, where Campbell was a member. Burial followed in Poplar Creek Nations Cemetery.
Campbell leaves behind his parents, Jennifer Ware and husband, Keith, of Kilmichael and father, Bobby Campbell and wife, Sheena, of Grenada; and siblings, Alyssa Campbell of Kilmichael, Bree Campbell of Grenada, Mary Kendall Ware of Kilmichael, Anna Cole Ware of Kilmichael, and Jake Ware of Kilmichael. His grandparents are Barbara Gibbs and Phyllis Ware; paternal grandparents, Steve and Alice Gard and Bob Campbell.
Campbell also leaves many friends across the area, with the athletic teams of two area schools serving as honorary pallbearers.
According to Winona Christian School Headmaster Jimmy Pittman, Campbell was “an extremely well-liked” young man at both Winona Christian School and Kirk Academy, having attended both schools. He was a senior at Winona Christian.
Fellow senior Molly Woods said the Winona Christian student body is devastated by the loss of their friend.
“No words will ever be able to describe the pain we all feel right now,” Woods said. “Today, tomorrow, and the days to come are going to be some of the hardest days of my life. I’m so glad that I was given the opportunity to be able to grow up with Trey. He was always the life of the party for sure. Please continue to keep his family, friends, and the senior class in your prayers. We weren’t just classmates, we grew up like family.”
Addyson Mann, like many at Winona Christian, will miss Campbell’s friendly smile.
“Trey was not only a friend, but he was family,” Mann said. “He always knew how to make someone’s day better. He had a big heart and a contagious smile. He made sure to live his life to the fullest in every moment he had.”
Marley Kelley said Campbell’s “contagious smile, loudness, and laughs will be so missed.”
At Winona Christian School, Campbell excelled in the classroom and the athletic field.
“Trey was a very good student,” Pittman said. “He was very involved. He was a fine young man.”
Outside the classroom, Campbell was a member of the student council and was a class representative. He was a member of the high school Beta Club. Trey also played football, basketball, and baseball for Winona Christian.
“Trey was a polite, courteous, very well-mannered young man,” Pittman said. “That is certainly a credit to the way he was raised.”
Winona Christian School Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Junior Graham said Campbell balanced academics and extra-curricular activities very well.
“He obviously did well in the classroom,” Graham said. “During football practice, he was always wide-open. He was an ‘efforts guy.’”
Graham said his cheerful demeanor was almost contagious.
“Most days he came to practice with a smile on his face,” Graham said. “He had a smile on his face all the time and would make you smile.”
Pittman said losing Campbell is an “unbelievable loss” for the Winona Christian family. He said the faculty is currently working with students in dealing with the grief of losing their friend.
“He was part of our family,” Pittman said. “We’re are a small school, but we are a family.”
Classmate Gracee Downs said, “We are more than just friends. We are family. We lost a part of our family. So many ‘I love yous’ have been said, so many smiles, and so many memories made.”
Bethany Robbins said Campbell’s sense of humor was something she would always remember.
“There are many people that were closer to Trey than me, but he still made an impact on my life,” Robbins said. “Trey always had someone laughing.”
Reed Tharp shared a message to his friend.
“Trey, you weren’t just a friend to me, you were my best friend,” Tharp said. “You were always there when I needed someone to talk to. I’m going to miss walking in class and seeing you sitting there with your two water bottles! I thank you for all of the great memories that we ever shared. Senior year is going to be different without you!”
Abi Burns said Campbell was “a dang good friend.”
“I’ve been telling myself that none of this is true,” Burns said. “You’re coming back and I will see you standing there with your Kirk bag and two bottles of water because, ‘Hydration is key,’ with that big sweet smile I saw every day waiting on me for class.”
