MEMORIES OF JERRY
SELF
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I have known Jerry
for about 6 years. He was my neighbor and my friend. Though I didn't see
him much, the times that I did I always got the impression that he was
everything that people have said that he is and more. I know that he will
always be remembered in all of our hearts.
I remember walking down
the Quad (the Corps of Cadets' living area) near the beginning of my junior
year and meeting Jerry. I was having a decent day, when somebody
very tall threw their left hand out in front of me and started screaming
in my ear that fish Self was his name. I was wondering why he didn't
offer his right hand when I noticed it
had a cast on it.
We went through the motions that go with introductions, and he went on
his way. I walked to my class a little happier, thinking that the
freshman I had just met looked like a joker. That's mostly how I
remember Jerry, as a joker.
I had the
privelege of being one of his seniors the following year, since his old
outfit had been disbanded. I was a little nervous about having new
sophomores in our outfit, but seeing the way Jerry worked with our freshman
put my mind at ease. I remember him as a very fair, albeit a little
bit mischevious sophomore. His underclassmen respected him and were
very motivated by him.
I was at church
one Sunday, and felt a tap on the back. When I turned around, there
he was, with that "I just did something that might make you mad" look in
his eyes. That was the last time I saw him. I wish I could have gotten
to know you better, Jerry.
My prayers are for you.
I had the privilege of
participating in a Memorial Service for all the fallen Aggies this evening
at Central Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas. I specifically prayed
for the family and friends of Michael Stephen Ebanks, another student who
lost his life with Jerry.
I knew Jerry through
his work in the Wednesday night Awana program at Central Baptist Church.
The Awana program provides a place for kids ages 3 through 6th grade to
learn about God through His Word, the Bible, and to have a fun time in
the process. Jerry was truly in his element as he assisted with "game
time." Our Children's Minister, Mark Gibson, told me his last memory
of Jerry was watching him sitting on the gym floor teaching kindergarten
through 2nd graders a bean bag toss game. The smiles on the kid's faces
were clear evidence that Jerry's beaming face was a reflection of His Savior,
who also loved the little children.
The prayer that follows
is offered for the family and friends of Jerry and his bonfire comrades.
2 Timothy 1:9-10
“...grace was given us in... our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed
death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Our heavenly Father,
I acknowledge that You are a holy, sovereign God, who loves us with a everlasting
love. I thank You that when we trust in Jesus as the only way to
salvation, we are guaranteed to have our sin forgiven, to become part of
the family of God, and to live with You forever. I praise You for
your Word that says, “Death where is your victory? Death where is
your sting? ...thanks be to God who through Jesus gives us the victory...”
the victory that swallows up even
death. I Corinthians
15:55 & 57
Father, I lift up
to You the families and friends of the Aggies who lost their lives and
who were injured. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured students.
In the middle of this horrible tragedy, I ask that You bring all those
affected to the place where they can experience Your peace, a peace that
exceeds all human understanding. I also ask that You will equip
us, as Believers, to have the wisdom, sensitivity, and openness to the
Holy Spirit so that we can demonstrate the Hope
that lives within
us to so many who are hurting and confused.
I pray, Father, in
the healing, transforming, life giving name of Jesus Christ. May
all that we do bring glory to You. Amen.
I didn't know Jerry or
anyone from the college in Texas. I am from England and have been in America
for 3 years. I am amazed at the tributes this young man received, I have
never seen anything like this website before. I am also saddened by the
loss of his life and the others who were taken in this tragedy. I admire
his father for his words and strength at this awful time. I don't know
why I am writing or what I could possibly say to help you. I cannot imagine
how you feel. I wish you peace and happiness with the memories of your
son. From everything I have read and heard on the TV he was a special,
unique young man. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
As many times as I have
thought about what to put up on this page, nothing ever seemed right. There
just really aren't words to express what I and millions of other people
are feeling about this horrible tragedy. As both an Aggie and a Viking
the loss of Jerry hit me particularly hard. I can still remember Jerry
sitting across the room from me in my classes with that ever-present smile
on his face. He truly knew how to live and love life, and I have no doubt
that he will be smiling down on us from heaven making sure that his spirit
forever continues in our hearts.
Jerry-
You were my competition...so
I didn't like you.
You had a great girl...so
I didn't like you.
But the real reason
I didn't like you was because you were everything I wanted to be.
fellow Patriot, fellow
Viking, fellow Aggie
You are missed.
-Name
absent by request
Going dancing.
Fighting for left-overs at Freebirds. Mad Gab. Worshipping
together. Losing my hand in his when we shook hands. Giving
Natalie a hard time. Bar-b-que cookout...you finally got that grill
going! Felipe and the salad dressing. His passion for kids.
Talking about the future. That smile....the list goes on. I only
had the privilege of knowing Jerry during this semester, but it was a semester
of memories that will last a lifetime. Jerry was a great man of God with
a huge heart, and I consider it an honor to have been able to serve the
LORD beside him for a short time. I am a better man because of it.
Lord I pray that your glory be shown through all of this, and that when
people remember Jerry they remember the light that radiated so brightly
from him
and they would question
the source and find you! I miss you bro, you made it home though...sorry
we never got together to watch football.
As soon as I read about
Jerry in the paper and saw the picture of Michael (18), I was taken back
a few years. Before your family moved to Arlington, I remember you
living in Euless and I used to drop my son (Jeff Shiflet) at your house
in the mornings so him and your son's could go to school together (South
Euless Elementary). You were kind enough to give him the security
code to your home so he could come in. Jeff and Michael played on
the same pee-wee football team together and stayed in touch for a short
time after that; after yall moved to Arlington, but somehow lost touch
over the years. It wasn't
until I read about
Jerry that I knew I needed to send my thoughts and prayers.
Jerry sounds as if
he grew up to be a great young man. I know how proud you must have
been to be his parent's. I can't imagine the pain that you must be
going through, as I've never lost one of my children, but I hope that you
will accept my deepest concerns and sympathy.
Back in 1993, my daughter
(Renae) got my son a dog for Christmas. (We bought us a house that year
and was able to finally get a dog.) She's a german shepherd mix.
We had a special friend that was an A&M graduate; therefore, Jeff named
his dog Aggie. The dog is six years old now and is a well known dog
around the neighbourhood, for her Aggie name.
My son became an Aggie
fan and collected several A&M T-Shirts over the years; however, the
shirts became too small for him, so I kept them for myself. I wore
those T-Shirts all weekend, in honor of all the families that suffered
this loss.
I know you will lay
your son to rest today. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
May God be with you always.
Our prayers are with
your family, Jerry. All of Aggieland will miss each of you.
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