MACON, Ga. — A 16-year-old at East Laurens High School died after an ATV accident at a friend's home, according to the teen's obituary.
Wyatt Murphy died on Oct. 12 just over two months until his 17th birthday. He was born on Christmas day in 2006.
In a Facebook post, the Laurens County School district said Murphy's death will leave a hole in their community.
"Wyatt’s kind heart and generous spirit will be missed by all who loved him," the Facebook post said. "We are grateful for the short time we had him in our lives. The lasting impact of his presence will forever be in our hearts."
Murphy was a junior on the East Laurens Football team and, according to the BC Royal Touchdown Club, he played as #36 on the team.
"Wyatt’s kind heart and generous spirit will be missed by all who loved him," the club said. "It is during times like these that you have to lean on one another for strength."
According to his obituary, Murphy loved hunting, fishing, hiking and doing work around his family's farm. They also remembered his athletic talents.
"When Wyatt was born, the doctors remarked how big his shoulders were and said he would make a great football player someday," the obituary read. "When Wyatt began high school at East Laurens, he was passionate about being part of the football, wrestling, and baseball teams. We will always cherish the leadership and love poured out to him by his coaches."
They also say he attended the youth group at Brewton Baptist Church and was baptized in 2021.
After the ATV crash, he had been treated at Navicent before his death, and the family sent their deep appreciation for their care.
"Words cannot express the family’s appreciation to Dr. Christie, Dr. Rowe, and the nurses at Navicent Hospital in Macon for their professional and compassionate care," his obituary read.
The Laurens County School District called on the community to come together and support Murphy's loved ones.
"It is during times like these that you have to lean on one another for strength," they said. "Keep his family, friends, teammates, teachers, and the Falcon community in your thoughts and prayers, as they navigate through another loss."
His funeral was on Tuesday. The family asks that donations for Murphy instead go to East Laurens High School Football.
Back on Labor Day, a former athlete from East Laurens 24-year-old Juwon Edmond died in an ATV crash. A friend of Edmond's and a former running back for Dublin High School Gregory Jones was also killed in the crash.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average, 700 people die every year and 100,000 people are treated for injuries caused by Off-highway Vehicles, which includes ATVs.
MORE THAN A NUMBER
RELATED: More Than A Number: Family Form
More Than A Number is a Poynter-Stand Together award-winning project by Justin Baxley designed to help families of loved ones impacted by tragedy and trauma interact with journalists in a less intrusive way. Families are able to fill out a form about their family and also receive an in-depth guide on the next steps.
More Than A Number officially launched in August with a streaming special available on 13WMAZ+ for on-demand streaming. For any questions or concerns about More Than A Number, contact us here at the following email: MoreThanANumber@13wmaz.com.