Tennessee Pastor Announces The Teen Member, 17 Has Died Of Covid19

A community in Hamilton County is mourning the loss of a 17-year-old Sequoyah High School student to COVID-19.

Senior Pastor Calvin Nunley of Christ Family Church in Soddy Daisy confirms that Justin Leming died in the hospital on Sunday afternoon.

“Justin was such a jovial boy,” Pastor Nunley said. “He was a joy to be around.”

Pastor Nunley says he got to know Justin quite well after his family joined the church about 10 years ago.

“In just a few minutes of meeting Justin you would have a friend. You would want to be around him,” he said, describing his fun-loving attitude and sense of humor.

“In just a few minutes of meeting Justin you would have a friend. You would want to be around him,” he said, describing his fun-loving attitude and sense of humor.

“He had a sweet spirit about him, real kind demeanor,” said McNabb. “Everybody loved Justin.”

McNabb says Justin’s sense of humor was wonderful, and often shined within his church group. He also says he had a strong sense of faith.

“If there was one thing I know Justin would want people to know, and I want people to know about him, is that he was a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that’s why he had peace at the end,” McNabb said.

Sequoyah High School Principal Amy Myhan sent this message to parents:

“It is with great sadness that I share with you that one of our Sequoyah students passed away yesterday. This student was a kind and caring person who was a special part of our school family and will be missed very much. I wanted to make you are aware of this news and let you know our counseling office and administrators are available to support our students and teachers through this difficult time. Our counseling team will continue to be available throughout the school year if your student needs to talk with someone.

Please keep our Sequoyah family and our community in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult journey.”

Hamilton County Schools spokesman Cody Patterson sent this comment:

“We are absolutely heartbroken and lifting up a grieving family in prayer during this agonizing season. Our counselors are offering support to students and staff as they process this devastating situation.”

Pastor Nunley says Justin’s step grandfather, Tommie Wright, passed away about two weeks ago, from heart-related conditions. He says Wright was like a father to Justin, who had no biological father in his life.

“He was really a stabilizing force for the family,” Pastor Nunley said.
Pastor Nunley shared that Justin had a passion for welding, and that his goal was to become a great welder after high school.
He also says that Justin had a real passion for the church community. “Justin came to church every time that there was church,” Pastor Nunley said.
“I’ll miss him. I really will, and I say that with all my heart. I’ll miss Justin,” said Nunley.
According to his obituary, Justin leaves behind his mother Olivia, his brother Joshua, and his cousin Cole, who was like a brother to him.
There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony for Justin at Christ Family Church on Wednesday, September 15th at 7 p.m., which will be broadcast live on the church’s Facebook page, according to Pastor Nunley. A visitation for friends and family will precede it from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m..
Pastor Nunley read us a “life statement” he says Justin wrote himself about a year and a half ago.
“Do good, and die great. Do some good, and show people if you do good, you will die great. You put some good in the world, so the world will be a better place. Jesus is why I live, so I can spread the word and worship him. And I stand to make the world great again. I spread the word so people will do good, and die great.”
According to the Hamilton County Health Department’s website as of Monday, there have been 5 people aged 20 or younger who have died from COVID-19 in Hamilton County. It’s not clear whether that number includes Justin’s death.
Pastor Nunley says Justin’s family doesn’t want to speak about the topic of COVID vaccinations, because they want Justin’s story to be about who he was. Pastor Nunley says he does not know whether Justin was vaccinated or not.