By By Adrienne McKenzie
The memory of Jacorey Devon Johnson will live on throughout the years in many Escambia County High School students.
Johnson, 19, passed away on Sept. 15 following injuries sustained in a car accident in McCullough.
According to Johnson's parents, Charles and Pat, Jacorey's life was centered around music.
"When he got into the (ECHS) marching band so much about music came to life in him," Pat Johnson said.
Because of Jacorey's love for music, his parents have donated a saxophone to ECHS band member Quadarrell Redmon.
Redmon was one of Jacorey's good friends before he passed and was honored that the Johnsons thought to give him this special gift.
"I was very surprised and happy," Redmon said.
Redmon said he misses his friend Jacorey and that he is thankful for the gift of the saxophone.
"I would just like to say thanks to his parents," Redmon said.
Pat Johnson said they chose to give the gift to Redmon because of his and Jacorey's friendship.
"They (Jacorey and twin brother Tacorey) befriended him while he was in band," she said. "He started coming to church with Jacorey. They took care of him. The fact that he was trying to be a good child and a good student, we wanted to encourage him to go on."
Jacorey's father Charles Johnson said Redmon had an older saxophone and all the other sax players at ECHS had newer ones.
"When we saw him with an old saxophone and everyone else had a new one, we just wanted to give back," Charles Johnson said.
Pat Johnson said she wanted Jacorey's love of music to come out in another student.
"We wanted to encourage that in someone else," she said.
Another honor in Jacorey's name is a scholarship fund created at United Bank. Jacorey played the drums in The Visionaires of Atmore and the leader of the group Rodney America wanted to do something special in his honor.
"It was just something God laid on my heart to do," America said. "We started this fund at United Bank and different companies and individuals have been donating to it. It will give a scholarship to one of the kids at the school to further their education in Jacorey's name and it will be an ongoing process throughout the years."
Charles Johnson said the scholarship fund is a way to give back to Atmore students.
"We just wanted to give back to the community," he said. "It's something we decided we wanted to do and we want everyone to support the Jacorey Johnson Scholarship Fund."
To donate to the Jacorey Johnson Scholarship Fund, contact Nancy Johnson at United Bank at 446-6000.