Pike County High basketball player found dead in home
Published 10:11 pm Thursday, February 19, 2009
Jarred Snell was always either on the football field, on the basketball court or in the classroom working toward his degree.
Snell will not be found doing any of those activities again.
Snell, a Pike County High School junior, died Wednesday night while working away at his homework, according to Pike County coroner Jerry Williams.
Willams said Kim Snell, Jarred’s mother, found Jarred around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday evening not moving and unresponsive at the kitchen table. She called 911 and Jarred was pronounced dead at Troy Regional Medical Center Thursday upon arrival.
Pike County coroner Jerry Williams said the case is being investigated by the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the Pike County District Attorney’s office, the coroner’s office and the Pike County Department of Forensic Sciences. He said there are no results at this time, but the coroner’s office does not suspect foul play.
Snell was a well-liked student athlete at Pike County, Principal Mike Hall said.
“There are a lot of kids and teachers upset about what happened to Jarred,” Hall said. “We had counselors come in to comfort our students, but it has been very subdued here today.”
Hall said he got to know “Bubba” Snell well during his time at PCHS.
“I knew Bubba real well and he was a very polite and respectful young man,” Hall said.
“He worked extremely hard and we was well-liked by the faculty. He was also an excellent athlete for us. We will miss him a lot and I will miss our daily talks about sports.”
Hall said Snell was more than just a great athlete. He was a great student and person, as well.
“He was the epitome of what we ask our students to be here at Pike County,” he said.
“Some might say it is easy to say nice things about someone who has passed away, but he was really looked up to by the other students here at the school. He was a very outgoing young man.”
Snell played football and basketball for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs basketball team had an AHSAA Class 3A South Regional semifinal scheduled for Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and head coach Doug Holland said the team chose to go forward with the game.
“The school did a great job of bringing in counselors and pastors to talk with our kids,” Holland said. “But our guys wanted to play the game because that is what Jarred would want us to do. He would want us to push on and not be down because that is the type of person he was.”
Holland said Snell would be missed when the Bulldogs take the court.
“He is going to be a player that is truly missed,” Holland said. “This is a devastating loss for the community. He will be truly missed personally as well and it is such a shock to see him gone at such a young age.”
Shawin Terry, who has known Snell for seven years, said this is a sad day for Brundidge.
“I have enjoyed watching Jarred grow into an outstanding young man,” Terry said. “It has been a hard day for me because my son, Martin Larkin, is his best friend. So I have had to watch what my son is going through and that is so hard. He was a great kid and he is definitely gone too soon.”
Terry opened the Rosetta Sanders recreation basketball league seven years ago , and Snell was a member of the league.
Terry has watched Snell from the sidelines of football and basketball games ever since that time.
Snell was not insured and Terry is gathering donations to help the Snell family through this time.
Any person interested in donating to the Snell family can call Terry at 334-372-1660.