TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — On Friday, those who knew Jordan Byrd honored his memory.
Byrd, a 19-year-old student at Tallahassee Community College, was working his way through school as a custodian at Fort Braden School when he died of COVID-19 earlier this month.
The unexpected loss was remembered at a vigil at Cascades Park.
Candles were lit and balloons released into the sky Friday night as heavy hearts remembered Jordan Byrd and promised to never forget a person who left a mark on the hearts of many in Tallahassee.
”It’s hard to accept," said Mary Sloan, a family friend. "I can’t accept it.”
”Out of the four years I’ve known Jordan, I’ve seen him have a bad day like once," said India Davis, a former classmate of Byrd's at Godby. "He’s always positive he was always nice always willing to help.”
Davis says he was more than just a student or a custodian at Fort Braden, he was a leader, an honor guard member at Godby, and the president of the Kappa League.
“He was one of the best people I ever knew," said Trevor Russo, a former-classmate of Byrd's at Fort Braden and Godby. "He was always willing to help when someone needed it. Ge believed in others and in himself more than anything else.”
Byrd was working his way through school as a janitor at Fort Braden School and was the first employee to die of the virus.
But despite his death, his family says they are committed to keeping his memory alive.
Byrd is one of three employees who were infected at Fort Braden School. Karen Bradwell, a long time employee at the school, also died from the virus.
