CARROLLTON -- The community is mourning the tragic death of a Carroll Academy senior.
Jacob Randall, 18, was killed early Monday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Mississippi Highway 17, four miles south of Carrollton.
Randall leaves his mother; Christy Randall of Coila; his father and step-mother Forrest and Melissa Randall of Olive Branch; two brothers; Wayne Randall of Greenwood and Zachary Randall of Coila; two sisters Cindy Randall and Jessi Randall, both of Olive Branch; paternal grandparents, Dwight and Carolyn Randall of Seven Pines and Fay Randall of Carrollton; maternal grandmother, Linda Lance of Greenwood; aunt, Paige Upchurch of Clewiston, Fla.; and uncle, Brian Randall of Carrollton.
According to Carroll Academy Headmaster and Football Coach Bo Milton, Randall was a “super kid,” who was always polite and courteous to everyone around him.
“[Jacob] was very respectful,” Milton said. “He was the ‘yes, sir,’ ‘no, sir’ kind of kid, and he always had a smile on his face. I don’t know anyone who didn’t like him.”
Milton said the news of Randall’s death was devastating to the faculty and student body at Carroll Academy. Monday, school was out for fall break, but Tuesday, several pastors from the community met with students at a special assembly for sixth through 12th grade students to minister to them as they grieved. Classes were canceled Wednesday for funeral services that were held in the Carroll Academy Gymnasium.
“We tout how we are family at Carroll Academy,” Milton said. “And we are. This is going to be very tough on all of us.”
Teacher Memrie Turner, who taught Randall for the last three years, said a tragedy like this is inconceivable.
“We all loved [Jacob] at Carroll Academy,” Turner said. “This is something you can never prepare yourself for. It will be hard for our Carroll Academy family. Here we are all like family.”
Turner said Randall was never without a smile or afraid to ask for a hug.
“[Jacob] had a huge personality and was voted Best Personality by his class last year,” Turner said. “No one deserved it more than him. He always seemed to be a go-to person for many of his friends.”
Colby Holly, a fellow football teammate and one of Randall’s best friends, said life with him was never a dull moment. Holly has many fun memories with him.
“He would always get so nervous before Track meets that he couldn’t run,” Holly said. “He also was shaking so bad reading his poem at the senior pep rally.”
Holly remembered all of their deer camp trips, quoting movie lines together, boat rides on the river, singing Karaoke, dancing at the Black Hawk School House, shop nights, making fun of Randall’s glasses, putting a snake in Randall’s truck, and eating supper at the Randall house every night.
“He would cut grass for me and could never get the weed eater to crank,” Holly said.
Bubba Porter, another football teammate and best friend, said Randall was kind-hearted and caring of everyone around him.
“He will always be my best friend,” Porter said. “Jacob was the kind of guy that all you had to say was please help me and he’d be there in five minutes.”
Senior classmate Hunter Robertson said Randall was always smiling and made everyone feel happy.
“He never failed to make me laugh even when I was very upset,” Richardson said. “I loved Jacob like my brother. We always knew one day we’d be brothers, I just wish I had five more minutes with him. I’d tell him how much I miss him and how much I love him.”
Beth Upchurch, Randall’s cousin, said she and her friends could go to Randall with any situation, adding “He was like a personal bodyguard.”
She explained, “Jacob was the most trustworthy, down to earth, loving, caring, open hearted person. He would drop anything for anyone. No matter how many times you hurt him he would always forgive you. He loved sports almost as much as he loved his Mom and his friends. If you ever couldn’t find him, all you had to do was the check the football field, gym or weight room.”
Graycen Wiltshire, a senior classmate said he made everyone feel special young or old.
“He joked constantly and smiled always,” she said.
Randall was an all-around athlete at Carroll Academy, playing football, basketball, and baseball.
“He was having a great year [this football season],” Milton said. “In 10th grade, he was our quarterback, and last year, he was out for a knee injury. He came back this year as linebacker and defensive back. He was having a great year.”
Noah Collier, a senior classmate and a football teammate of Randall, said he was with him Sunday night, and all he could talk about was an interception he made during the game against Marshall Academy on Senior Night the Friday before.
“He said he had been trying to get an interception since Pee Wee, and he got it on his senior night,” Collier said.
Photo by Stephanie Clanton.
