Heaven became several shades brighter last weekend following the death of a 2022 Kirk Academy graduate on a Grenada County backroad.
William Russell “Will” Hartley, who was described by his classmates as a bright light in an oftentimes dark world, was killed early last Saturday morning, while he was on his way home to Grenada. The accident occurred when the truck he was driving left the roadway on Highway 35 South in Holcomb near the Cane Creek Bridge and struck a tree. He would have turned 19 on March 16.
For the second time in less than six months, the private school held a candlelight vigil Sunday evening at the school’s football stadium to celebrate Hartley’s life and pray for his family, classmates and friends. Leah Fielder, a senior, was killed in an ATV accident last October only hours before Homecoming festivities were set to begin.
“Tonight as you gather to honor Will’s memory — grief — we’re all experiencing the pain of loss, shock and suddenness of death, we’re experiencing the reality that because of sin, death entered the world and none of us are exempt from that,” Dr. Brent Barker, senior pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, said as he opened the vigil.
William "Will" Hartley
Barker went on to invite the group of mourners to take advantage of counseling services that were available for those that needed to open up about the tragedy.
“Don’t ignore those feelings,” he said.
Kirk Academy graduates, current students, parents and community members were among the more than 200 in attendance.
Classmate Richard Flautt, who delivered a personal eulogy during Hartley’s funeral Tuesday morning at Emmanuel and attended Holmes Community College with him, spoke highly of his close friend.
“Will was one of a kind,” he said. “He always had a smile on his face. It could be the darkest room, he’d walk in and man, he’d light it up. He was always kind and always wanted a hug. I would go to shake his hand, but he always wanted a big hug, so we always hugged each other. Will will always be remembered by his sweetest hugs. He always gave me the biggest and the sweetest hugs, that I can vouch for. He was always so kind. There was never anything negative coming out of his mouth.”
Fellow graduate Colbert Hathcock has been lifelong friends with Hartley and agreed that his fallen friend was always beaming with joy.
“I grew up with him,” he said. “From the Country Club to doing school projects with him at my house, going out to the lake doing school projects, no matter what he was doing, he always had a smile on his face and was having a good time.”
Hartley’s infectious smile didn’t go unnoticed by his classmate and friend John Hiram Davis either.
“He could brighten up your day by just walking in the room,” he said. “He never ceased to stop smiling; it was so contagious. He was always there for you – for everybody. He was my rock.”
Hathcock added that Hartley was one of a kind.
“He was the best guy you could ever imagine,” Hathcock said. “He never complained, always had a smile on his face. It doesn’t even seem real with him being gone.”
Barker later touched on tragedies that Kirk Academy has faced this school year.
“Not long ago, we gathered together in a moment to grieve over Leah Fielder — her untimely, tragic death,” Barker said. “We still grieve, that pain is fresh. That wound is still open. Now, here we are again and I’ve personally witnessed and seen God do amazing things. The death of Leah and the death of Will will not be in vain if God speaks into your heart and draws you to himself to confess your sin and to place your faith and trust in him.”
The candlelight vigil, which opened and closed in prayer, also included an emotional acoustic solo of “How Great Thou Art” by classmate Carson Stanford.
