White Hall has had more than its share of sadness and that continued last week with the news that its boys basketball coach, Matthew Williams, known as Matt, not much more than a boy himself at age 37, was killed in a car wreck.
The police said he was driving on Hazel Street and his car collided head-on with a pickup. He died at the scene.
Williams was hired by White Hall less than a year ago from Texarkana and showed promise, although at a time like this, his won-loss record dims in the shadow of his death.
“We are just saddened by the news about Coach Williams’ passing,” said Superintendent Gary Williams. “He was in his first year with us. We’ve become fond of Coach Williams. His players, the coworkers and parents in the district found a great love for Coach Williams. A large part of that came from the type of person he was.”
In the same day’s newspaper, there was also the story of 18-year-old Benjamen Redix, who was accidentally killed two years ago, one day before he was to graduate from White Hall High School. As the story was told, Redix was driving a vehicle and a friend was in the backseat when a gun the friend was playing with went off, striking Redix in the back. The distraught friend pulled Redix from the vehicle and tried to save him but was unsuccessful. A photo that went with one of the stories about his death showed his chair at graduation adorned with his graduation gown. There is now an event held each year to honor Redix’ life and to inspire others to be the best they can be.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
And then in June 2023, a month after Redix was killed, there was the death of Ryan Mallett. He was in Florida, swimming and playing in the surf and drowned. He was just 35.
To many, Mallett was a celebrity, having been a star quarterback for the Razorbacks and then an NFL quarterback for several years. To his players, however, he was just Coach.
As good as life can be, as amazing as someone’s potential might be, there are, of course, no assurances for tomorrow. These were all unexpected deaths of young people taken suddenly. Each had their own unique trajectory they had worked hard to create. And each one lives on in the memories of those who loved and cared for them.
That is a lot of sorrow over a short period of time for one school district, which, in many ways, is like a big family. They will move on, as we all must, but such losses are never easy to process. We would all do well to reexamine our own lives at such a time and to remember to offer love and support to those who need it along the way.