Family, friends to say goodbye as Independence HS quarterback laid to rest

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of loved ones and teammates will gather Saturday to say goodbye to an Independence High School quarterback who died last Sunday.

Charlotte Independence High School quarterback Davyne Simpson died Sunday night more than a week after being found unconscious in his home, family members told Channel 9.

[LINK: GoFundMe to help burial services]

"When I saw it, I sat there for a minute, put my phone away,” friend Tayler Teti said. “It was tough to process it"

"I was just sitting with my friends yesterday talking about it, like, ‘Dude we're already out of high school.’ He didn't get to make it," friend Ronald Gibson said.

His memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Myers Park Baptist on Queens Road.

Simpson was found unconscious Aug. 11 and was then placed in a medically induced coma.

"You knew he was a leader even though he was the youngest," friend Tina Gibson said.

The Independence High School community continues to lend its support to Simpson’s family.

Last week, students showed their support by wearing “Pray for Flash” T-shirts, which is Simpson’s nickname.

"It's been very tough, like he's been all over the news,” former student Kenny Owens said. “I mean, Instagram people (are saying pray for him)."

We updated WSOCTV news app users with a notification just after 11 p.m. last Sunday that the beloved football player had passed away.

Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this developing story as they come in.

Simpson’s coach confirmed on Facebook the 16-year-old was found unconscious at his home, but the reason why has not been released.

The family has requested privacy, so information has been hard to come by.

Simpson's death has had a devastating impact on the Independence family.

"Yes, one of my best friends, her son plays football and I can tell it has impacted her family a lot,” parent Deirdre Johnson said.

Prayers were coming from around the world, including an Instagram post by rapper Joey Vantes.

“Let's pray, man, and see the miracle hand of God move,” Vantes said.

Other high school players from Sun Valley High and Olympic High showed their support on social media.

Four-time NFL Pro Bowl player Antonio Cromartie also tweeted that he was praying for the young quarterback.

“It's a travesty, you know what I'm saying?" Jeff Cohn, a parent, said. “Especially if it was the quarterback of the football team.”

The coach posted on Facebook that there was no surgery or procedure that doctors could perform.

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Cox Media Group