Photo by Ryan Ottney | Daily Times
The Sciotoville community gathered Sunday to say goodbye to 17-year-old Quintin Howard, who died after a car accident on Friday.
Photo by Ryan Ottney | Daily Times
A candlelight vigil was held at East High School Football Stadium Sunday evening for 17-year-old Quintin Howard, who died earlier that day.
Ryan Scott Ottney
PDT Staff Writer
SCIOTOVILLE — Hundreds gathered and shared tears at the East High School Football Stadium in Sciotoville Sunday evening to remember 17-year-old Quintin Howard with a candlelight vigil.
Howard was reportedly critically injured in a single car accident Friday evening on Lick Run Lyra Road in Wheelersburg. He was taken to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, but never regained consciousness. He died on Sunday. Hours later the stadium was filled with people to say goodbye.
“We are a family in Sciotoville, and when you’re a family you rejoice in your successes as a family in the good times and you also grieve together in the difficult times as a family. We don’t have a lot in our community, but we have each other and that’s what will get us through this,” said Sciotoville Governing Board Member Bill Shope.
East Elementary Principal Foresta Shope, remembers Howard as a “sassy” student, quick with a joke and always ready to lend a hand.
“When we did the blood drive this last time, he did the double … I don’t know the technical term. He donated plasma and blood because of how long he’d get to be out of class. He told Mrs. Arms, ‘They don’t really need me. Class can go on.’ When he was asked ‘Why would you do that?’ because that takes a lot out of you (donating blood and plasma) he said ‘Why wouldn’t I?’ He was an amazing young man,” she said.
In addition to being a blood donor, Quintin also saved the lives of four children by donating his organs after his death.
Howard worked with Jeff Brant at Brant Funeral Home in Sciotoville. After a shooting incident near the funeral home several weeks ago, he went there to be sure Brant was OK.
“He said ‘How are you? That’s the only reason I came over.’ And I said ‘I’m fine,’ and he said ‘Would you like a big hug?’ and I said, ‘Yes, just don’t break my ribs,’ and he gave me that beautiful smile. That was Quintin. He came to check on me,” Brant said.
Before leading the crowd in prayer, Sciotoville Superintendent Rick Bowman called this a great loss to the Sciotoville school and community.
“This is a family. They’re not going to be alone. They’re going to have all of us, and we’re going to have each other to work together to get through this very difficult time,” Bowman said.
Candles were lit, and the light was passed through the crowd like Howard’s own light touching everyone.
Quintin’s brother Holden Howard was there for the family on Sunday. He said his brother would have been so happy to see such a turn out, and to hear people’s prayers.
“If he’d have known, it probably would have helped him pull through. He would have loved them,” he said. “I would like to thank everybody. This would mean the world to him, and I know that he does know up there. I didn’t think this many people would show up, and I am so grateful they did.”
Howard would have been a senior at East High School next year.
Ministers and administrators will be available at the school beginning Tuesday to counsel students through this tragedy. Funeral arrangements are pending, but will be at Sciotoville Community High School under the direction of Brant Funeral Home.
Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 287, or rottney@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Ryan on Twitter @PDTWriter.
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