Video: Pontotoc High School Mourns Unexpected Loss Of Student

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PONTOTOC , MISS  (WCBI) – There’s an empty desk in this pre calculus class. It’s where Tristan Stafford normally sat. The Pontotoc High School Junior lost his life in a car wreck early Sunday morning. Friends believe he was about to go turkey hunting.

Pontotoc High Principal Dr Eddie Moore says Tristan loved the outdoors.

“Every morning, when he was waiting on the vo tech bus, a lot of times we would engage in hunting stories. I grew up as an outdoorsman and so did Tristan, he loved the great outdoors, so did I and we had some stories to trade,” said Dr. Moore.

Tristan also loved the color red. That’s why many of his classmates, and teachers wore red to school. They also took time to write thoughts, prayers and condolences on a huge piece of red paper in the main hallway.

Robert Fleming met Tristan when they were in the fifth grade. He says fellow students are sharing many memories of the young man who found great joy in making others laugh.

“We were in the same class and everyday at lunch he would bring joy to everybody’s face, just uplift everybody’s heart with his sense of humor and that’s one of the things that stuck out about him and that we will all cherish and remember about him,” Fleming said.

They also remember a teenager whose life was built on a firm foundation.

“The assurance that Tristan was a Christian and went on to meet his Lord and Savior is a great thing to fall back on, a great thing to believe and I have no doubt he’s with the Lord today,” Moore said.

“I just want to encourage everybody to continue to pray for Pontotoc High School and the family and to know that Tristan is in a better place and I’m sure he’s smiling down on us if he was here he wouldn’t want us to be sad but to rejoice with him,” Fleming said.

Tristan’s funeral takes place Tuesday afternoon, lots of students, faculty and staff expected to attend. Many of them say they know the days and weeks ahead will be tough but they say they will get through this trial by holding fast to the same Christian faith that Tristan called his own.