Loved ones say goodbye at funeral for teen killed in alleged hit-and-run accident
WENDELL, N.C. (WTVD) -- It was a painful goodbye Sunday in Wendell as loved ones gathered for the funeral of 13-year-old Keith Jones, Jr. The boy was killed Tuesday in an alleged hit and run accident while waiting for his school bus right outside his house.
The service was at Riley Hill Baptist Church where Jones was involved with the children's ministry. Family and friends from Wendell Middle School packed the church, right alongside his football family.
Jones loved playing football and was a running back for the Knightdale Dragons in the Pop Warner Football program.
"His teammates were his pallbearers," said family friend Melvin McNeill.
Early Tuesday morning, the 7th grader was killed on Edgemont Road. The driver since charged with the hit and run is 28-year-old Efren Vences. Vences told reporters after turning himself in that he didn't realize he'd hit a child, or he would have stopped.
"I still can't believe he's gone," said Ameerah Godwin, an 8th grader who befriended Jones during their time at the Boys & Girls Club. "Keith wasn't the best, but he always played like he was the best. He never gave up."
"He was very energetic, outgoing, smiled a lot, really loved life," said McNeill, echoing the same sentiments from other loved ones who told ABC11 what a happy kid Jones was and how he had big goals.
In his obituary, Jones' parents talk about how on the morning he was killed the teen told them he wanted to become captain of his Dragons football team. As loved ones said goodbye Sunday, Jones was laid to rest having reached that goal. His coaches named him an honorary team captain.
