The Oxford High School senior class forever memorialized their former classmate and friend, James ‘Jamie? Charles, at an emotional ceremony May 23.
Surrounded by friends, family and administration in the sun-filled courtyard at the school, the Class of 2006 dedicated a memorial bench in honor of Charles, who passed away at the young age of 14 in 2002.
He would’ve graduated from OHS this June.
Brad Grunewald, senior class president, said they decided to purchase the $1,500 bench for the courtyard near the Performing Arts Center because it would ‘always leave a mark.?
‘We want future students to always know that the student that never made it always impacted all of us,? he told the crowd.
Charles? parents, Rod and Karen, listened intently as childhood friends, like Miranda Christen, shared their memories of growing up with their son.
Christen remembered skating on their neighborhood canal, playing flashlight tag and going on adventures with Charles.
‘Thinking back on all the memories he created with the Beemer Court gang alone, it’s amazing to think of the memories he could’ve created with us in high school,? she said. ‘His life was cut short, not by his own will, but by a need for him elsewhere.?
Karen Offer, also a childhood friend of Charles, said he was ‘always full of energy and full of life.?
She remembers Charles running as fast as he could to get home after getting off the school bus, his missions to save the woodlands next door from being torn down and how he like to capture frogs.
‘All of us could’ve learned something from him,? she said. ‘Like about life. We just should’ve paid more attention when we could.?
Charles? soccer coach, Lynda Mueller, remembered how he ‘gave 110 percent? at soccer practices and joked about how he always strived to beat her son, Kam Mueller, in running.
‘That was and that is and always will be Jamie Charles,? she said.
The Charles? said they were ‘honored? that the Class of 2006 would remember their son in such a way.
‘I know he would be so touched to know that you remembered him,? Karen Charles said to the class at the end of the ceremony.