THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) – The family is now speaking about the loss of a beloved star athlete in Thomasville.
Demarrio “DJ” Thurman was a former Thomasville High School football player. He was killed in a car crash in Leon County, Florida last week.
“This has really impacted our family in such a way, but we refuse to let this be the end of DJ’s legacy,” said Shavoka Mills, Demarrio’s aunt.
Sniffles could be heard throughout the Thomasville High School Stadium as hundreds of people came out to remember Thurman’s life at a balloon release on Monday, July 1.
“To know him is to know he cared. He cared about his friends, he cared about his team, he cared about his image and how people saw him,” said Learneshia Lewis, Demarrio’s aunt.
Thurman’s family said most people knew DJ for the great athlete that he was, but it was what he did behind the scenes that made him great.
“He prayed, and he asked God to give him the strength to be the caliber of athlete that he knew his team needed,” Lewis said.
Thurman’s mother told WALB off camera that her grandson shares the same spirit as Demarrio, and although he won’t grow up with his dad, they know that he will always share a piece of his father both on and off the field.
“His daddy loved him, and he was such an amazing young man,” Mills said.
Thurman’s family said his legacy will continue to live on as they are in the process of creating a scholarship at the Thomasville High School in Thurman’s name.
“Long live DJ, live like DJ. For kids that want to further their education and go off to school in remembrance of DJ. Such a remarkable young man,” Mills said.
Over 100 people came to mourn Thurman. His aunt said the same support at Friday night football from the community should now translate to everyday life for the community.
“Y’all got on the road and traveled to see him, get on the road now so you can see him again because he is up there training to play the biggest game of his life,” Lewis said.
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