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Thomas Beard, who was looking forward to celebrating that glorious summer before senior year with his best friend, 16-year-old Braedon Barnett of Union City, is instead mourning that young man's death this week. He is one of many who will be aware, not just throughout the landmark year they are moving into, but for the rest of their lives, that one of the brightest, most talented and best loved among them left them behind in what they think of as far too soon.
"He made a huge impact in his short life and he touched the lives and hearts of countless people," Beard said Monday. "As another one of Braedon's friends, Travis Crum, put it, 'He was a leader, a confidant, a constant source of frustration and arguments and my best friend. He loved God with his whole mind, body, soul and strength, just like Jesus commands. I can't think of any other person that showed so many people God's love by his own example. The coming days will not be easy, but I take comfort that Braedon died as he lived, a son of God.'"
Beard echoed that assessment. "One of the most annoying but endearing problems of Braedon's was his incessant inability to ever give up on an argument. He was always right in his mind, and he could convince anyone to do just about anything, which made him an even stronger soldier for God. Ultimately there is one thing he can and will be remembered as, and that is a servant of God. Not the kind of 'servant of God' we say to mourning people to make them feel better, either. He was a true follower of Christ and he lived his life as one each and every day."
Braedon, the son of Karyn (Stephens) and Chaco Hill of Union City and Matt and Tina Barnett of Martin, was undergoing tests for a heart problem and was to have kept an appointment at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville Monday morning. His young life ended Sunday afternoon, however, soon after he told his mother he was in terrible pain and did not feel well. While she was making preparation to take him to the emergency room, he slipped into an unresponsive state. Medical personnel worked to revive him, but that was not to be.
Many of his friends left town on mission trips and spiritual retreats over the weekend — faith-centered opportunities like the ones he delighted in and had taken part in so many times already in his young life. They decided to complete their commitments because they said it was a way to honor Braedon's memory and they felt it was something he would have wanted them to do.
"He will be remembered by his classmates as a man of God and an amazingly funny and enjoyable person to be around," said Beard. "Braedon will be the one who died too soon. It goes with saying that he had an entire life ahead of him that he won't get to live. He was going to Knoxville and get an engineering degree of some sort, and then he was going to spend the rest of his life leading others to Christ as a missionary. He may not have the ability to do those things, but even in his death, he still has a chance to touch lives and glorify Christ. Now it's up to us as friends and members of the community to carry on his legacy as a man of God.
"His closest friends have decided to honor his death by doing what he would want and becoming better Christians and spreading the Word. Anyone who wants to truly honor him should do the same; that's what he would want more than anything."
Braedon was a young man educators warm to. His enthusiasm for learning, particularly his love of music, made him a standout.
"He was a special kid," said UCHS band director John Easley. "He loved music and he just did everything for the right reason. He played guitar at his church and trumpet in jazz band and marching and concert and symphonic bands, and he was part of our band Leadership Team. He loved playing his horn, but he loved God more than anything else. That was the most important thing to him."
Lance Morgan, a math and science teacher at UCHS who had been Braedon's instructor in several classes, recalled him as extremely intelligent. "You could see his spiritual life through everything," he said. "In school, in class, at church — it affected every area of his life. He was a UCHS Magnet School student and at church he was involved with the youth department and playing music. He was on stage doing background music with his guitar at a lot of services, and he took part in so many different ministries as part of the youth department."
UCHS principal Wes Kennedy spoke of him as a standout student. "In a class of high achievers, he was the first one to score more than 30 on his ACT. He had a 32. He was a just such a great kid. He didn't have any negative issues at school, and he tried to live a Christ-like life. This is just so shocking."
Braedon was also a brother. His sisters are Olivia Hill of Union City and Brittany Barnett of Martin and his brothers are Brennan Barnett of Union City and Chaeton Hill of Martin.
Just three weeks before his own death, Braedon's concern was for his girlfriend, Jordan Jurgiel of Union City, who was missing her own graduation because she had been involved in an automobile accident that Sunday afternoon. No one foresaw a greater grief looming.
His buddies say Braedon took joy in many things: his call to duty; the game of Spades; his "fwoofy" hair styles; his friends; his family; his girlfriend, Jordan; and, most importantly, God.
Friends of the family have established an account in Braedon's memory at First State Bank. His mother is a member of the board of directors of Bridge of West Tennessee, which is a special ministry to women who are trying to turn their lives around.
Checks to the Bridge of West TN-Bradedon Barnett Memorial Fund can be deposited directly at the bank or mailed to The Bridge of West TN, P.O. Box 635, Union City, TN 38281, with checks made payable to Braedon Barnett Memorial Fund or in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Second Baptist Church Youth Group or Second Baptist Missions, 831 Everett Boulevard, Union City, TN 38261.
Braedon's youth minister at Second Baptist Church, Brad Boucher, is in the company of many young people who are on a spiritual retreat at Synergy this week. It is a unique place to be at this time of earthly loss and mourning, a situation Braedon would probably characterize in very different terms, since he would have seen his entry to heaven as a cause for the greatest celebration.
"He was just 16," Boucher said, "but I never met anyone with such a passion for people to get saved. You could just see his fire and it was inspirational to me; it made me want to be better myself. I felt so inadequate around him sometimes. He loved to study the Bible and he would always ask me these deep theological questions about things he had already been looking at. He kept me on my toes.
"Everyone who knew him knew he loved the Lord with everything he had. He was the leader of our youth group. He played in the praise and worship bands and he would step in for me and speak to students. I've known Braedon for several years, but it was only in the last 18 months or so when I've been his youth pastor that I got into his head deeper. There was so much knowledge there, things even some pastors don't have. He was just an inspiration to me to be on top of my game, to remember that God will use you."
To be used by God is the characteristic most people who knew him associated with young Braedon Barnett.
"One day," Beard recalled as he thought about his friend, "we had a conversation at our lunch table about what your dying wish would be. Braedon's wish was that he would get a chance to go on a tour across the country to tell others about God before he died. I wish more than anything he could've gotten that."
Braedon's body was not up to the task; but who can tell just how far the witness of his dedicated young life may extend? If his friends and family, encouraged by his faith and spiritual energy, have anything to do with it, it just might extend around the world. BRAEDON'S TESTIMONY — "I Am Second," was more than just a message about a new spiritual movement printed on a T-shirt where Braedon Barnett was concerned. It was a simple declaration his friends and family say he did his best to live up to, putting God first and spreading the message about the peace and joy to be found in that commitment to others throughout his 16 years of life. Braedon entered into a new life Sunday, just two weeks short of his 17th birthday.
Services for Braedon will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Union City Second Baptist Church. Brad Boucher, Micah Harbison and Acton Bowen will officiate. Burial will follow in East View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alex Darnall, Travis Crum, Chase Treece, Thomas Beard, Jason Stone, Peyton Cox and Bo Rider. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Union City High School band.
The family will receive friends at the church from 4-8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Edmaiston-Mosley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Braedon was born June 28, 1997, in Union City. Active in missions, he traveled to Puerto Rico and twice to Honduras and participated in disaster cleanups in Moore, Okla., Metropolis, Ill., Phil Campbell, Ala., and in the Gulf coast after Hurricane Katrina.
He had completed his junior year at Union City High School. Braedon's life was Christ-centered, having a servant's heart. His passion was to be a witness to people about his faith and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He is also survived by his grandparents,Sam and Judy Stephens of Union City, Bill and Brenda Barnett of Obion, Marianne Martinez of Camden and Jerry and Fran Morehead of Martin; and his aunts and uncles,Chris and Allsion Butner of Union City, John and Cindy Evans of Arlinton and Kip and Jennifer Barnett of Nashville.

Edmaiston-Mosley Funeral Home
731-885-1033