Community honors teen involved in tragic wreck
November 25, 2014
Charlea Mills
A tragic accident early Sunday morning brought the end to a beautiful life, but her memory lives on with her family and friends.
Jessica R. Morgan, 17, of Seligman, daughter of Jerry Morgan and Barbara Morgan, was travelling south two miles north of Washburn when her car ran off the roadway and struck a culvert around 1:35 a.m. early Sunday morning. The teen, although wearing a seatbelt, was seriously injured and had to be life flighted to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. When her family learned of the devastating news that Jessica would not recover, they made the order to do what they knew she would have wanted, donate her organs to save others.
The gravity of the accident hit the Southwest School community hard on Monday morning when classes resumed, and the day was spent remembering Jessica through stories, an assembly and, later, a candlelight vigil in the parking lot. High school principal Tosha Watson said, “She was a really good girl. This was a tragedy for our Southwest high family.”
In the cafeteria, friends of Jessica gathered to share stories, laugh, cry and support each other while they dealt with the news. Jessica was an athlete to her core, playing basketball, softball and running track for the school that she had attended since kindergarten.
A group of her fellow basketball players sat down to share some of their memories of the years they’d spent with Jessica. As their tears flowed, they shared their favorite things about her, like her laugh, her smile and who she was on the inside. Brianna Learned said, “She would always laugh, even if she was mad.”
Player Jaime Shrum said, “It didn’t matter if she didn’t know who you were, she would always want to know what was wrong if you were upset. She wanted to help.”
That giving spirit came through in other ways, as well. Longtime friend and fellow basketball player Zia Roller said, “I remember she was so happy that she could donate blood, because she could save people’s lives. She wanted to be a hero, and that’s how she got to go, saving other people’s lives.”
A common theme for her friends was how she loved everyone but, particularly, her nieces and nephews. Fellow basketball player Kaitlyn Bernard said, “Her pride and joy were her nieces and nephews. They were all she talked about.” According to Jerry, her father, Jessica had seven nieces and nephews and five siblings whom she loved very deeply.
Jessica was also strong, a fearless athlete, avid hunter and never afraid to be herself. Emily Snyder laughed and shared, “She was so sassy.” Shannon Mitchell agreed, “She wouldn’t hold anything back.”
That strong spirit led Jessica to be who she was. Echoing that sentiment, Taylor Swindle stated, “She stood up for what she believed in.”
Roller, who was friends with Jessica since they were three years old, shared, “When I was really little, Jessica and I did Upward basketball. We would get stars for things while we played, and Jessica always got the most white stars, more than anyone else. The white stars were for who was the most Christ-like. It was about what kind of player you were on the court, and that’s who she was.”
Her father, Jerry, said that faith was a big part of her. She attended church at First Baptist in Washburn. He also shared that she had ambitions to become a physical therapist and work with athletes. Her dad said, “She really loved to hunt.” His girlfriend, Jodi McCasland, added, “She was the only girl I know that could bow hunt.”
While the tragedy of the loss of Jessica is fresh for her family and friends, the resonating part of her story is that she was the type of person who wanted to help others, which is why she was an organ donor.
Jerry said, “She was an organ donor. That’s what she wanted to do.” Jessica had to be flown to St. Louis from Springfield for the organ donation, and as of time of press, she is still on life support while they find organ matches. Jerry said, “We found out that they have found some recipients that are matches, and we will be making the arrangements to bring her home soon.”
Midday at Southwest High School, the students all gathered in the gymnasium to hear from one of Jessica’s brothers, Lane Morgan, 14. While Lane spoke, green organ donor bracelets were handed out to the crowd. Lane shared, “She always wanted to save lives, and that’s what she was doing by donating her organs.” He encouraged everyone to have faith just as his sister did and assured everyone that she was in a better place. He said, “She’s happy.” Lane closed the assembly with a prayer.
Jessica, although an athlete, National Honor Society member and honor roll student, was much more than that to the people who knew her. It was that person deep down that the community went to support Monday night at the candlelight vigil. As the massive crowd gathered on the front lawn of the high school with their candles lit, people prayed, sang “Amazing Grace,” and hugged each other as they said goodbye to Jessica. But fellow basketball player MaHolla Crow said, “She doesn’t want people to be sad. That isn’t her.”
The girls said that Jessica is still a part of their team just as they want her to be. The girls’ first game slated for Monday night was cancelled, but they plan to honor her at every game. Bernard said, “We want to take a picture at center court with all of the girls and boys players with her jersey in the middle.” They plan to hang the photo in her memory.
The girls will also have Jessica’s number, 14, on their jerseys and patches on their jackets. With Jessica’s jersey on the bench at every game, the girls agreed: this season is for her, and she will not be forgotten.
Charlea Mills
A tragic accident early Sunday morning brought the end to a beautiful life, but her memory lives on with her family and friends.
Jessica R. Morgan, 17, of Seligman, daughter of Jerry Morgan and Barbara Morgan, was travelling south two miles north of Washburn when her car ran off the roadway and struck a culvert around 1:35 a.m. early Sunday morning. The teen, although wearing a seatbelt, was seriously injured and had to be life flighted to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. When her family learned of the devastating news that Jessica would not recover, they made the order to do what they knew she would have wanted, donate her organs to save others.
The gravity of the accident hit the Southwest School community hard on Monday morning when classes resumed, and the day was spent remembering Jessica through stories, an assembly and, later, a candlelight vigil in the parking lot. High school principal Tosha Watson said, “She was a really good girl. This was a tragedy for our Southwest high family.”
In the cafeteria, friends of Jessica gathered to share stories, laugh, cry and support each other while they dealt with the news. Jessica was an athlete to her core, playing basketball, softball and running track for the school that she had attended since kindergarten.
A group of her fellow basketball players sat down to share some of their memories of the years they’d spent with Jessica. As their tears flowed, they shared their favorite things about her, like her laugh, her smile and who she was on the inside. Brianna Learned said, “She would always laugh, even if she was mad.”
Player Jaime Shrum said, “It didn’t matter if she didn’t know who you were, she would always want to know what was wrong if you were upset. She wanted to help.”
That giving spirit came through in other ways, as well. Longtime friend and fellow basketball player Zia Roller said, “I remember she was so happy that she could donate blood, because she could save people’s lives. She wanted to be a hero, and that’s how she got to go, saving other people’s lives.”
A common theme for her friends was how she loved everyone but, particularly, her nieces and nephews. Fellow basketball player Kaitlyn Bernard said, “Her pride and joy were her nieces and nephews. They were all she talked about.” According to Jerry, her father, Jessica had seven nieces and nephews and five siblings whom she loved very deeply.
Jessica was also strong, a fearless athlete, avid hunter and never afraid to be herself. Emily Snyder laughed and shared, “She was so sassy.” Shannon Mitchell agreed, “She wouldn’t hold anything back.”
That strong spirit led Jessica to be who she was. Echoing that sentiment, Taylor Swindle stated, “She stood up for what she believed in.”
Roller, who was friends with Jessica since they were three years old, shared, “When I was really little, Jessica and I did Upward basketball. We would get stars for things while we played, and Jessica always got the most white stars, more than anyone else. The white stars were for who was the most Christ-like. It was about what kind of player you were on the court, and that’s who she was.”
Her father, Jerry, said that faith was a big part of her. She attended church at First Baptist in Washburn. He also shared that she had ambitions to become a physical therapist and work with athletes. Her dad said, “She really loved to hunt.” His girlfriend, Jodi McCasland, added, “She was the only girl I know that could bow hunt.”
While the tragedy of the loss of Jessica is fresh for her family and friends, the resonating part of her story is that she was the type of person who wanted to help others, which is why she was an organ donor.
Jerry said, “She was an organ donor. That’s what she wanted to do.” Jessica had to be flown to St. Louis from Springfield for the organ donation, and as of time of press, she is still on life support while they find organ matches. Jerry said, “We found out that they have found some recipients that are matches, and we will be making the arrangements to bring her home soon.”
Midday at Southwest High School, the students all gathered in the gymnasium to hear from one of Jessica’s brothers, Lane Morgan, 14. While Lane spoke, green organ donor bracelets were handed out to the crowd. Lane shared, “She always wanted to save lives, and that’s what she was doing by donating her organs.” He encouraged everyone to have faith just as his sister did and assured everyone that she was in a better place. He said, “She’s happy.” Lane closed the assembly with a prayer.
Jessica, although an athlete, National Honor Society member and honor roll student, was much more than that to the people who knew her. It was that person deep down that the community went to support Monday night at the candlelight vigil. As the massive crowd gathered on the front lawn of the high school with their candles lit, people prayed, sang “Amazing Grace,” and hugged each other as they said goodbye to Jessica. But fellow basketball player MaHolla Crow said, “She doesn’t want people to be sad. That isn’t her.”
The girls said that Jessica is still a part of their team just as they want her to be. The girls’ first game slated for Monday night was cancelled, but they plan to honor her at every game. Bernard said, “We want to take a picture at center court with all of the girls and boys players with her jersey in the middle.” They plan to hang the photo in her memory.
The girls will also have Jessica’s number, 14, on their jerseys and patches on their jackets. With Jessica’s jersey on the bench at every game, the girls agreed: this season is for her, and she will not be forgotten.