Jason Hughes, the beloved math teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, who died last Friday after he was accidentally run over by one of his students during a game called junior-senior wars at his home, is being remembered as a “great man of God.”
Meanwhile, his widow, Laura Hughes, has asked for grace for five 18-year-old students charged in connection with his death.
Sheyden Maynor, a graduate of North Hall High School who knew Jason Hughes, 40, told US Weekly that the late math teacher was a big supporter of the junior-senior wars that resulted in his death. He said both students and teachers participated in the game around this time of year called “Rolling Trees,” which involved toilet-papering.
“Coach Hughes always got excited about this time of year,” Maynor said. “He thought it was fun.”
A student would get 1 point if they rolled another student’s house, 2 points if they rolled a teacher’s or coach’s house and 3 points if they rolled an administrator’s house. The game is such a well-known activity in the community that even the Hall County School District warned participants against damaging property a day before Jason Hughes’ death.
“In previous years, some pranks during prom season — sometimes referred to as Junior/Senior Wars — have gone too far, resulting in damage to property. We urge all students to refrain from participating in any activities that may cause harm or destruction to school or personal property. Such actions not only reflect poorly on the individual involved but also tarnish the reputation of our schools, families, and community,” the school district said in a statement on Facebook.
“It’s essential to recognize the serious consequences that can arise from engaging in destructive behavior. Damaging property can lead to criminal charges, not to mention the potential repercussions on your participation in graduation ceremonies and other special events planned for this time of year,” the statement added. “We cannot stress enough the importance of making responsible choices and thinking about the long-term impact of your actions.”
At around 11:40 p.m. on Friday, Jason Hughes tragically slipped and fell as he tried to catch the group of students who had come to throw toilet paper on his house and trees, The New York Times reports.
One student, Jayden Ryan Wallace, is accused of running over Jason Hughes with his pickup truck as the others tried to drive away. Once they realized what had happened, police said Wallace and the other students stopped and tried to administer first aid. Jason Hughes was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Wallace has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass and littering. The four other students, Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz, were all charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and littering on private property.
Laura Hughes, who is also a longtime math teacher at North Hall High School, doesn’t want to see the students prosecuted for the accident and prefers that they be given grace instead.
“There was no ‘confrontation.’ Jason knew the students were coming and he was excited and waiting to ‘catch them’ in the act. It had been raining and he accidentally slipped and fell into the road in front of the vehicle as they were driving away and was hit,” she said in a family statement shared by 11Alive.
“The students immediately tried to provide aid until paramedics arrived. Jason loved these students and they loved him too. Our family fully supports getting the charges dropped for all involved. This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” the statement continued. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
A statement released by Wallace’s parents through their attorney said they were full of remorse over the tragedy.
“We are a family in deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community. Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden. He took the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact,” they said. “Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.”
In a direct statement attributed to Wallace, the student also promised to live a Christian life to honor the late teacher.
“I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ,” he said. “He will never be forgotten.”
Aaron Mann, metro director of the Northeast Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes, confirmed Jason Hughes’ work with teenagers as a leader in the organization. He remembered him as a “great man of God” who left behind a “great legacy” in the youth he led to Christ.
“Jason was someone who understood what it meant to be a witness for Christ and someone who understood what it meant to speak the truth of Christ, and to share what Christ has done in his own life. He was a great man of God,” Mann said in a video on Facebook.
“He gave Jesus to so many teenagers and so many in the next generation. He understood that the Gospel was not something to be kept but something to give away.”
A GoFundMe campaign supporting the Hughes family had raised more than $480,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
Contact: [email protected] Follow Leonardo Blair on Twitter: @leoblair Follow Leonardo Blair on Facebook: LeoBlairChristianPost
