A friend of mine was hit by a drunk driver last night. His brain shows no activity at the moment. His heart is strong and continues to beat. He is sixteen years old. Pray that God in his mercy would choose to perform a miracle on my friend Clete. Update: Clete passed away at Baptist hospital in Winston, on November 19th.
Clete Childs 1989 - 2005
Update: Others have special posts expressing grief at Clete's passing. Joe Guarino and Mickey McLean are both members of the Greensboro blogging community and both have ties to Caldwell Academy (Clete's school). Clete's picture was on the front page of Saturday's News and Record. Many in this community are feeling the effect of this tragedy. My prayer is that God will use Clete's death in a redeeming way, in the same way that Clete's life on this earth had a redemptive impact on those around him.
The family will be receiving visitors at Friendly Hills Church at 10 am on Monday. Clete's funeral service will be at 1:00 pm.
Jeff,
My heart just skipped a beat. Is this who I think it is? I hadn't heard anything.
-Jason
Posted by: Jason Clarke | November 18, 2005 at 08:45
Yes, Jason, it is. I am sick about this.
Posted by: Dawn Treader | November 18, 2005 at 08:48
Jeff my prayers go up for Clete and his friends and family.
Posted by: dopderbeck | November 18, 2005 at 09:12
Clete is one of those kids whose life affected many. Great student (his high school canceled classes today), athlete, and friend to many- his gentle spirit never put down anybody despite his popularity. The son of our pastor and adored by the congregation, he is the antithesis of a "preacher's boy". He is a son that every parent and community would dream of having. He is my friend too and I am crushed by this. Praying for his friends is a very tall order, for they are many.
Posted by: Steve | November 18, 2005 at 09:38
Jeff,
I am praying for your friend Clete.
- Brian
Posted by: Brian | November 18, 2005 at 10:06
Thank you for praying.
I echo Steve's words. My life is better because of knowing Clete. We had great conversations together and I loved playing basketball with him. Clete is loved dearly by my two sons.
The immensity of this news is impossible to quantify.
I continue to beg God for a miracle at this very hour. Clete was not expected to live through the night ... but he continues to cling to life in Winston-Salem, NC.
May God have mercy on Clete, Clete's family, and the entire church in Greensboro.
Posted by: Dawn Treader | November 18, 2005 at 11:07
Clete was pronounced dead late this morning.
Please join me in lifting up the Childs family in prayer at this time of unimaginable grief.
John 5:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:41-58
Posted by: Dawn Treader | November 18, 2005 at 14:00
That's terrible, and I'm very sorry to hear it. Please send my condolences to the family. It may not mean much, but it's all I have to offer.
Posted by: tgirsch | November 18, 2005 at 14:08
Jeff, I'm so sorry, and will be praying for the family.
Posted by: dopderbeck | November 18, 2005 at 14:18
Here is a video clip from the evening news about Clete.
Channel 12 News
Clete was driving the blue Olds Cutlass. The video clip, among other things, shows what was left of Clete's car. The damage is astounding.
Thank you to those who have been praying and expressing condolences to the Childs family. I will see them soon and will let them know that many are praying for them.
Clete lived a life of impact. He touched many lives in only 16 years in this life. His encouraging words, his unselfish heart, his authenticity, his love for children, and his ability to light up a room with his smile, will be missed. He finished well.
Posted by: Dawn Treader | November 18, 2005 at 21:09
I knew Clete rather well as I spent two years as his classmate, and four years as his friend and we attended the same youth group. It is hard not to know Clete and not be affected by him. I am struggling why God would take this strong Warrior home so early. I was reminded that he was going to go to Westpoint and he and I would once again be Classmates of sorts, and it really tore at my heart that I would never be able to debate with him in a classroom setting again.
Clete often talked to us about his want to impact the world in drastic and overpowering ways. He was speaking to a parent who was very involved with the Youth Group about a week before he died, and he stated that he didn't know what he wanted to do after College, but he *did* know he wanted to live a life that influenced people and drew them to his Lord. When I was informed of this by the parent as the funeral yesterday I merely gave a little smile and motioned softly to the 700-800 some people who had come to attend and morn his departure, and said-
"Could he ask for more?"
I am really going to miss Clete, but I take comfort in the fact he's home, and as Dr. Childs said on Sunday, "It's a Hard place, but it's a good place."
Posted by: Molly | November 22, 2005 at 11:00
God pour out comfort and unfailing love on this young man's parents and siblings at this time of horrific loss. I know those who knew Clete will think of him ea and every day from here on out. None moreso than his father.
Honor Clete by continuing the mission that our Lord called him to: take joy to those who are sad, outcast, friendless.
God bless you Clete and I hope you meet my own father in heaven as well.
Brad O'Brien
Posted by: Brad O'Brien | November 26, 2005 at 21:33
I am sorry Jeff, and you have my condolonces.
Posted by: kevin | November 28, 2005 at 11:55
My only son Patrick (20 years old) was killed in October. He was crossing a road and hit by a young driver. My heart aches for my beautiful child, so I imagine is the unbearable ache Clete's family and friends are going through.
There have been so many people offering me comfort. There has been no bad comfort..all was heartfelt and I'm so grateful for it - for those who sat with me, for those who cleaned up the house and repaired the furniture when I tore it to pieces the night my son died; for those who quietly brought me water at the funeral home, the ones who slipped food into my house while I slept; the ones who understood when I couldn't bear to talk.
Yet, in this short 3 months I found the greatest comfort (easing of pain) came from the people who talked to me about what my son meant to THEM..told me why he was important to them, told me stories and jokes about him I'd never heard before, cried because they couldn't bear his leaving. In those three months, most of the adults have disappeared from my life, but the kids keep showing up. When they come to visit me they just show up - bringing photographs of my son, bringing me copies of his music I thought I'd lost, bringing flowers and candy...but most of all coming to talk to me about Patrick ...because they miss him and want to talk about him, want to express their love for him. They come and they offer to help ..to clean the kitchen, help repair the roof ...anything - ANYTHING that I need done. When I visit Patrick's grave I find things left for him by friends...often people I don't even know knew him...candy, flowers, champaign for the 21st birthday he missed, CD's, cards, notes, dogtags...personal items that would mean something to Patrick...I've discovered that people visit there almost every day.
The reason I'm writing this is that I have no idea yet how to understand, accept, grieve ...this is just the very beginning of a nightmare that I'll have to realize is real, but in the meantime, I thought it would help those who want to help Clete's family and friends to know that the best comfort isn't putting a child's death into perspective (right now I have no perspective)...comfort comes from finding other's who love and mourn my child, who express it to me, and help me find lost parts of Patrick...parts I may never have known. Comfort comes from small actions - for example, those sweeties who washed my kitchen floor and the dishes when I didn't care if the house fell down around me. Comfort came last Saturday when Patrick's friends David and DJ found a copy of Patrick's senior project - a CD with a song he composed and produced called "American Dreams" ..I remember him working on it, but never heard the final version, then his computer crashed and I thought it was lost...but David and DJ found it, copied it for me, and played it for me in their car at 1:00 am..just an hour after sitting in the cemetary playing it at Patrick's gravesite.
I'm helped when people who treasured my son write down what it is about him that makes him so special to them, write down stories about him - their memories.
I was helped when the pastor said at the funeral "We do not say 'We LOVED him, we say we LOVE him'. He is not past ..He lives."
I will remember Clete, and will sometimes wonder if Patrick and Clete have come to know each other. May the Lord bless all of you with His immense love, healing and comfort. May you live to know Him. May you be again with Clete, WHO SURELY LOVES YOU.
Posted by: Peggy Liekar | January 19, 2007 at 15:53
Peggy,
Thank you for sharing what is the most meaningful comment I have ever received on this blog. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Patrick sounds like Clete in that he touched and continues to touch many lives. You are probably right that Patrick and Clete know each other by now.
Knowing how to bring comfort is hard to know. Please accept my profound thanks for teaching us from your own life how we can be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus Christ to someone who has experienced this kind of loss.
God bless you.
Posted by: Mr. D | January 20, 2007 at 06:53
Peggy,
My heart goes out to you with your continuing efforts to deal with the loss of your son and also to Clete's family. As I write this, I am myself trying to deal with the sudden loss of a seven year old boy in Gettysburg, PA this last Thursday (April 12) who collaposed and died during a late afternoon soccer practice. The lad had had heart surgery when much, much younger and I suppose there was always a risk of ihs heart giving out on him.
Needless to say, his mother and his surviving brother as well as his material grandparents are devastated at the loss. His name was Justin Sparks; he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in town not far from the US National Cemetery and also on ground hallowed by the sacrifices of the men of Blue and Gray all those years ago.
Peggy, when I read your account, I found my own eyes tearing up......May God continue to give you the strength needed to face each day and please know that even as you mourn, and also Clete's family mourns, that Jesus himself is there with you, carrying you until you feel strong enough to move forward on your own.
The chaplain at Justin's memorial service said that we are all probably wondering "Why God would take such a young person?" and, indeed, maybe there are at present no answers. If we are believers we HAVE to believe that he had a higher purpose in calling Clete, Patrick and Justin to be with him........and just accept it, hard as it is, on faith......
My prayers are with you, Peggy, and Clete's family.........
Posted by: Gerard Mayers | April 19, 2007 at 21:38