Garion Hight

While on vacation in Ackerman Mississippi, Garion Tyler Hight rested peacefully in our arms while he entered the loving arms of Jesus Christ during a sudden accident on August 13, 2005 at 2:00 pm.

Garion was involved in an ATV accident while we were on vacation, visiting family. He WAS wearing his helmet. Behind a newly built shed at his great-grandparents house was a temporary retaining wall that was normally blocked by a work truck. We just came in from riding and a few of us were preparing to head back out. Craig asked me if I wanted to drive Garion's ATV for a change of pace. Garion looked at me with those bright blue eyes and I smiled at him and said no. Garion then smiled back at me for the last time.

He then looked at his daddy and asked if he could go over to where his great-grandparents were in the yard while he waited for us. Craig said yes. He followed the path the truck had made heading around the shed. 4 seconds later, not even out of first gear, he went over the 3 ft. retaining wall. It was approximately 1 ft. behind the shed, not enough time for Garion to see it and stop.

I heard an awful noise and ran towards Garion. I saw him lying under the ATV. His daddy and grandpa threw the ATV off of him and his grandma called 911. Calyn and Rylon were also there, and this has been so hard on them to have seen. I remember every detail of what I saw and what I heard.

We talked to Garion telling him to stay strong, help was coming, and that we love him. There was a moment I had to look away, because I thought if I didn't see him lying there, none of this would be real. I wanted so badly to die, and I thought I was going to. I watched my son take his last breath and it didn't matter what we or the paramedics did (we all tried EVERYTHING).

The moment Garion was face to face with God, he wasn't going to want to come back home. He was home!

Garion died from cerebral head trauma, even though he was wearing a helmet. The back bar of the ATV hit the edge of his helmet, the weakest point, when it came down. His helmet couldn't sustain the impact. Even when you follow "the rules" accidents happen.

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