Remembering Gralyn Harper Jr.

β€œGralyn was like a brother to all of us …he could always pair us back up, glue us back together.” 

Blake mourns the tragic loss of Gralyn Harper Jr., a beloved and valued member of our community. Gralyn was deeply caring and positive, and his love reached every corner of our school. We have gathered some of our community’s love to share with you.  Below are thoughts, memories, and tributes to Gralyn put together by some of his closest friends in the building.

β€œHe would always be there checking up on everybody,” noted Javier Benitez, a longtime friend of Gralyn.

Benitez recalls that β€œwhen I didn’t really have anybody to talk to … Gralyn would always invite me to a party to play Fortnite and that really did a lot for me.”

When looking back on his memories with Gralyn, Brandt Barnett loved how β€œhe was friends with everybody, every day, all types of people.”

Corey Scarborough, a close friend of Gralyn, remembers him as β€œa very, very, loyal friend. If you were walking around by yourself, he’d always be there with you.”

Scarborough also notes that β€œGralyn would always be there, he would always be consistent” for his friends and community.

Cole Moore remembers how Gralyn β€œhelped with [his] confidence” and how he β€œcarried [himself].”

Kyle Swygert noted how β€œ[Gralyn] was a friend that just stays with you.”

Benitez noted how, since first grade, Gralyn β€œdidn’t really care about what others had to believe. If he thought something was right, he would stand up for it.”

Myles Moore remembers Gralyn as β€œpositive everything; I’d come in with some negative stuff in my life and he’d always find a way to make me feel better.”

β€œI knew Gralyn to be a calm and kind person. He accepted responsibility for things he would change in his life and was willing to forgive others’ shortcomings,” remarks Ms. Hayes, Gralyn’s counselor.