The season did eventually roll around. The smell of hotdogs, the bands marching in precision, the slight outdoor chill that ushers in Friday night high school football. For many athletes it is a time to learn about teamwork, to build lifelong relationships and to dream of college football.

It’s a time to walk around the campus with your head up high and to be your father’s focus of conversation at work on Monday morning. For about two years it was my privilege to have known one of those athletes, Jhockton Dalton, who attended Davie High. I became his uncle in February of this year, only three months before his death.

The initial time we met, I was awed by such a giant of a young man, however his voice quickly reminded me of his youth. He shared with me his dreams of one day going to the University of Michigan and playing college football. It didn’t take me long to realize that this was a genuine pursuit and that he possessed all the tools physically, attitudinally, and mentally to make his dream a reality.

I saw him play only once, against my old alma mater Mount Tabor. Although I outwardly cheered my allegiance to my old school, I inwardly celebrated Davie High’s victory.

This is a time of year that we really didn’t look forward to. The family knew that it was coming and that it would be one of our first obstacles to conquer. Life on Friday nights consisted of waiting on word from Mocksville or the 11:20 sports report on WXII to see the football scores. Lots of people knew Jhockton as a football and track star only, but this young man had so many other positive aspects. He excelled in the game of life.

Jhockton was very family oriented. He and his dad were best friends. Apart from football and track season, you rarely saw one without the other. He was a father’s dream. His mother referred to him as her baby and that was a title that he relished as long as just family was around. On the day of his tragic car accident, he visited both grandparents in Mocksville and Eden. He was proud of the fact that he was finally driving and was a young working man.

He had begun detailing his classic Nova to his own specifications. He chose for his muffler to remain a “little” loud, I guess as a trumpet to announce his arrivals.

His father was right, Jhockton had his life in order. He accompanied his parents to church every Sunday, and would sometimes come to Wednesday evening services dressed for work. At Davie High, he was a member of the Christian Athletic Society. This young man was just happy with life. He treasured and shared his with so many people in all walks of life. He seized the moments of his young life and etched an indelible place in all of our hearts. At the age of 16, he was already a mentor for cousins and kids in his small community. Many wanted to be like him, not so much as an athlete, but as a person.

To an extent writing this brings a degree of closure for me. At present, it seems like such a sustaining loss; one of the good guys has fallen.

I saw a lot of qualities in him that I wish I had exemplified in high school. There will be plenty more Friday nights, the cheers will be louder than ever, new stars are on the horizon and life at Davie High goes on. For us life will never again be the same. He wore No. 68 on his jersey, but he’s No.1 in our hearts.

Someone will take his position, but no one will take his place.

Good-bye, Jhockton.

n

Lee Brown lives in Winston Salem. Jhockton Dalton was killed in a car accident this May. A rising senior at Davie High, he was a standout athlete in football, wrestling, track and field.