Published: July 30, 2008 08:38 am         

Young men were obviously a vital part of the community

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 — It was the summer of 2004 when I was in the midst of preparing for two vitally important things, both brand new turf for me.

First, I was making the transition into the role of a college student. It wouldn’t be too long before freshman orientation and the first day of classes would be under way.

Second, I was on my way to Albemarle’s Resurrection Community Church, which served as home to a Stanly Support Our Youth (SOS) program site. Here, I would spend the summer as an employee.

My status as an employee changed when I met with the directors for the summer version of SOS. According to its Web site, it serves as a “community based after-school initiative that provides support and guidance to young people by involving them in constructive activities to keep them focused and out of trouble.” Not long after going over details concerning the program’s operation, my new “title” came into play.

Mentor was the name that they gave me. The they in this case were The Rev. Michael Stovall, pastor of the church and a middle school teacher; Kevin Peoples, church member and a relative of mine who had worked for the program in several capacities, most often in transportation; Howard Spencer, the go-to-guy who possessed the answer to every question, an elder at the church and also served the program in many areas; and Donna Tarlton, church elder and site director.

Unlike them, I was employed by the Resource Development Center, which had a program geared towards the success of youth that allowed participants to work over the summer at various locations, and for me, it was with SOS.

The term mentor came into play the moment the students, from grades one through eight began to register and take their places according to Tarlton’s direction.

A crowd of about 40 had gathered by the start time and several others came in for the coming days and weeks to register for the program. While I did know some of the students, most of them I’d never encountered; therefore, I had to figure out some way to be authoritative, yet friendly.

As it is their nature, most of the pupils readily introduced themselves; whether it was in a cordial sense or by matters of behavioral demonstration.

Among those few who actually took the time to formally introduce themselves was Andrico Lilly. At this time, Lilly was a rising eighth-grader, but in my opinion, seemingly possessed the height of the average fifth-grader.

After answering my questions concerning everything from his lineage to his favorite things to do at SOS, he quickly proved to be one of the best resources for information there.

He had been a part of the program for a while, and knew well the personalities of the students that may be subject to conflict. He warned me well before I had to deal with certain events, which made the work experience go by rather smoothly.

In addition to serving as advisor to me, he also served as poller when it came to recreational and musical activities of which I was in charge.

Especially regarding the music portion of the day, he always suggested a drill that I borrowed from a high school music teacher be conducted. This drill in particular dealt with listening and closely following directions.

All were asked to stand in front of several rows of chairs while singing the traditional Scottish folk song “My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean,” which I accompanied on piano. Every time a word beginning with the letter “B” was sung, you were to either stand or sit, always starting the song standing and ending it sitting. Things always were especially interesting during the repeated refrain: “bring back, bring back, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me...” which included a series of “B’s” that would always muster laughter as well as disappointment, varying amongst the participants.

In addition to this, his athleticism, which proved to be superior to that of my own once during a blacktop game of basketball, also spoke volumes to his versatility and unlimited abilities.

How sudden, as I’m sure it seems to many, that his and the lives of Tevis Swaringen and Justin Cowan ended at a time when they had really just begun. Katy Winne, a close friend of Drico, as he was affectionately known, reminded me of the sudden changing of events on that late Thursday evening.

“It is just so hard to believe that my best friend hung up the phone with me one minute and then lost his life the next,” she recalls.

Considering how hard this tragic event must be to bear for many, after seeing the turnout at Saturday’s vigil, these special young men obviously were a vital part to their community, which remains just as close-knit as it’s always been.

Dexter Hinson can be contacted by email at snaponline21@carolina.rr.com.