Cleveland High Schools remembers 2 who died in weekend crash

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) — Two Cleveland High School students tragically died in car crash this past weekend.

Students, teachers and family came together tonight for a memorial vigil in honor of the two.

“Shytez was a leader, we had several conversations about his leadership, and his ability to change the temperature of an entire classroom of an entire section of the school of the entire school. He was such a leader,” said Assistant Principal Eric Garner.

Air’ra Wilson and Shytez Jackson were a high school couple that were tragically taken away from us this past weekend, and students, teachers, and families came together to remember them for who they were.

“We really were up, and we really did treat each other like father and daughter. What was mine was hers. She had open access to my office. She would come raid my snacks. I mean she’s just a kind spirit,” Garner added.

The two had joyful hearts and personalities, with both of them having such an amazing impact on the school and the community.

When the faculty of Cleveland high received the tragic news about Wilson and Jackson, they debated on what to do for their prom this past Saturday.

“Yesterday was prom and so we had contemplated canceling prom or even postponing it or something like that and so we decided we had long conversations early yesterday morning and so we knew that the kids would want to be together. And we knew that the kids would want to come together and so, we thought what a better opportunity than to have some more safe for them to come together,” said Cleveland Principal Bob Prichard.

Graduation is also right around the corner as Wilson was weeks away from graduating. And while students are walking across the stage without one of their classmates, they will do whatever it takes to honor Wilson and Jackson.

“I just want everyone to know that life is such a precious thing, not replicable. Just know it’s something to really keep us protected as possible you’re loved what is cherish them every single day, because you never know when is the last time you’re going to see them,” said Cleveland senior Leandro Webba Jorge.

Cleveland High will have counselors from all local elementary and middle schools help those who are grieving during this time.