The young man shown above is one young Jimmy Pepmiller of Oak Grove, LA. Jimmy is a Junior and star Quarterback of the football team. Jimmy is also a very good friend, and son of two very good friends Rev. Roy and Sheila Pepmiller. Tonight Jimmy played his heart out. He fought for some tough yards against a very game Jena team. He only ended up with about 60 yards of offense but he did manage two touchdowns and one long run of about 40 yards. What's great about the night is not what Jimmy did with his hands or with his feet, but with his heart.
Take a closer look at Jimmy. If you do, you might notice under his eyes R.I.P and the name "Derrick". Tragedy struck this week in the small southern town of Oak Grove, LA. It seems that there are families and various people in the community that are at war with each other and have been for some time. Unfortunately because of an act of cowardice three lives were lost in a horrible fire started by a person full of anger and rage. A young man named Derrick Davis, full of promise and enthusiasm lost his life. The story that I've heard is that he initially made it out of the house, but went back in after other family members that were still trapped in the house. Oddly enough, the door was not an option as the arsonist had parked a vehicle in front of the door to inhibit lives being saved. This is of course the story being circulated around town, so I've not verified it personally.
What makes Jimmy a bigger part of this story is his compassion. It seems Derrick Davis was not liked too much by some other members of the school that he was forced to ride the bus with. So Jimmy being the outstanding young Christian that he is, offered to pick Derrick up every morning and give him a ride to school. I'm not sure of the events one early morning this week, but I can only imagine that Jimmy went to bed with thoughts of getting ready for school and homecoming week, and picking up his friend on the way to school. I shudder to imagine what his thoughts turned to when he awoke to the news. I can hardly imagine the pain and anguish he must have experienced.
But on the other hand I can imagine, as I have walked in his very shoes. Many years ago in high school I had a great friend. One that I admired and found passion and potential in. He and I did not begin on great terms as a brawl in fourth grade left us mad at each other for a couple of days. However, we soon became very close all throughout school. He ended up being one of the star players on our football team. He was #66 with offers from many schools to play the sport he loved so dearly. Football was his life next to his Christian faith. He had an amazing gift of being the craziest guy you could imagine but being very sincere with encouragement just when you needed it most. He was the child of a local pastor and oozed with potential that we could only imagine. As with Jimmy's morning this past week, I too awoke to that very same morning. It seems that at some point during the night he and his girlfriend had continued a fight and had broken up. With tears in his eyes he sat on the edge of his bed and without a thought for anything or anyone else he took his life with a shotgun in hand.
Many years have passed now since 1991, but the memory of waking up to that horrible moment still haunt me from time to time. I lived in Oklahoma City during the Federal Murrah building tragedy, and experienced it first hand. I survived Hurricane Katrina in southern Mississippi with all the pain it brought, but nothing has formed who I have become more than that one single event in my life. I realized then and there that if sin was so prevalent in the world, and that if a young man with such promise and joy could take his life in an instant, I needed to dedicate my life to making a difference in the lives of others. I never wanted to see another tragedy like that again. I am the father, husband, Christian, and friend that I have become now in large part because of the day I lost my great friend. Oddly enough, a few days before he had given me his football practice belt with the number 66 written in ink, and wanted to make sure I had it.
So, you see why I now understand the courage Jimmy had tonight. He has fought through the fire, he has stood with courage, and now he has a lot of decisions to make. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this will change his life forever and help to create him into who he will become. I know that there is an awesome God willing to turn this into something good in the lives of others. I know that the God of Peace will be right beside Jimmy every night that he awakes in a cold sweat, or drives to school thinking of picking up his friend Derrick. So, on this night Jimmy Pepmiller played his heart out for #5 Derrick Davis, just as I for #66 Derrick Nelson. Rest in Peace Derrick Davis. Rest in Peace Derrick Nelson

Preston