MEMORIES OF JERRY SELF
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I didn't know Jerry that well, but I wish I would have. I remember the one time I talked to him, it was the first week of school, and I begged my best friend Vicki to go with me to the Student Council Meeting. She didn't want to, but finally she agreed. After it was over, we were standing outside waiting for her mom to pick us up, and he was standing a little ways over. I looked over, and he just started up a conversation with us. That was
probably the most exciting thing that had happened to me at the time, a senior guy talked to Vicki and I, sophomore girls.  That was the only time I ever talked to him. But I wish I had known him now. Reading all of these stories has really shown me what a great guy he was.
I send all my prayers towards his parents and Michael.
-April Hutchinson (LHS '99), tigger_girl16@hotmail.com
I went to school with Jerry from 3rd to 6th grade at South Euless Elementary School.  We were really good friends who enjoyed making fun of each other.  I will always remember racing him in the 100 yard dash at field day in 3rd grade.  We bet a snow cone to the winner.  I won the race and remember eating the snow cone in front of him.  After I
finished it he made fun of me for having a red tongue.  In the face of defeat, he found a way to make us both laugh.  We truly lost a great person.  I know he is in a better place right now watching over us. Everyone always remembers their crazy childhood days.  I thank you Jerry for being there to give me some of those memories.  Take care friend.
-Christian Rodriguez aka "Chris," ich7455@labs.tamu.edu
As a fellow Aggie in the greatest secular fraternity on the face of the Earth, please allow me to express my heartfelt sympathy to you at this time of the very great loss of Jerry-------Although I did not know Jerry, I loved him with every fiber of my body----But even more importantly,the love of Jesus obviously prevailed in Jerry's life-----I am so thankful for the eternal life assurance provided for Jerry and for his continuing
Christian testimony that lives on-------May the Lord bless each family member and friend of Jerry's in a most powerful and comforting manner that only He can provide.
In Christian and Aggie love,
Travis H.Small, Jr.
A&M class of 1963
and Pat Small
parents of two Lamar Vikings
travis.small@usda.gov
I knew Jerry since I was like, eleven years old.  He was always one of the "Big Boys" in the youth group, and I always thought that he was going to marry my sister.  I'll never forget him and Brandon goofing off with the full length mirrors in my house, or all the times he used to come over after church and wrestle with my little brothers.  He was one of the most awesome guys I'll ever know, and I can't wait to see him again.

For Jerry...

Once there was a smile
beautiful and bright.
Now there is a stillness
that stills us all inside.
We fear for what
the future might be
without this one
who made us see
that with Christ we could
love anyone
and that life was basically
just fun.
But we know he's in heaven
laughing with God
and thinking we're all
so very odd
for saying that his life
is at an end
because he knows when we die
we really begin.
We think of Jerry
in our Father's care
and though we miss him
we rejoice that he's there.
We remember this promise
in the midst of our pain,
"To live is Christ...
To die is gain!"

I love you, Jerry.

-Rebekah Dewhirst, bekahboo28@hotmail.com
JERRY IS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND WILL ALWAYS BE. I BELIEVE HE WAS AN ANGEL SENT TO US FROM GOD.  HIS SIMPLICITY WAS PERFECT,HIS HUMOR WAS UNBELIVABLE, AND HIS HEART NONREPLACABLE!
THE WAY HE HAS TOUCHED OUR LIVES WILL NEVER LEAVE US.  THE WAY WE FEEL WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT JERRY WILL STAY INSIDE US UNTIL WE ARE REUNITED WITH HIM ONCE AGAIN IN HEAVEN.  JERRY HAS NO BAD QUALITIES IN MY MIND, HIS PERSONALITY IS DESCRIBED IN 3 WORDS: HOPE, FAITH, AND LOVE.  MY HEART IS BROKE IN TWO, YET HE REMAINS IN MY SOUL.  JERRY IS THE BEST PERSON I KNOW. HIS PASSION FOR LIFE I ENVY. NEVER A FROWN ON HIS FACE, JUST A GOOFY GRIN THAT LITE UP THE WORLD.  I WANT HIM BACK, BUT I AM NOT AFRAID TO DIE ANYMORE, I KNOW JERRY WASN'T AND THE SOONER I PASS THE SOONER I CAN SEE HIM.  I LOVE HIM!!!   MY SISTER, LINDSAY WHITE, IS GETTING MARRIED IN JANUARY.  JERRY WAS A GROOM'S MAN AND HE WAS GOING TO WALK ME DOWN THE ISLE, MY SISTER NEVER KNEW IT BUT WE HAD A LITTLE TRICK UP OUR SLEEVES AND INSTEAD OF WALKING  WE WERE GOING TO DANCE DOWN THE ISLE.
I WILL WALK ALONE.
MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE SELF'S---YOU'VE RAISED THE BEST PERSON I KNOW.
IN HIS NAME
-shannon cole white, Whuzupper@aol.com
I thank the Lord for providing me the opportunity to know Jerry Self.  My heart breaks for his family, friends, and, most of all, the lives he would have touched in the future.  He symbolized the true spirit of a Christian, an Aggie, and a Lamar Viking.
-Gayle Nelson, Lamar Teacher, mandgnelson@worldnet.att.net
I have no memories of Jerry, as I never knew him, but I have children of my own, and feel very deeply his parents in their time of loss. I can't imagine burying your child, but
would like to express my deepest sympathies to his parents, classmates and friends.
A grieving Canadian,
-Susan Chase, chases@telusplanet.net
You don't know me, but I have a special connection to your fallen loved one.  I am a freshman at a high school in alittle town in Texas.  My town held a memorial service for those who died in the bonfire.  Being active in the Hill Country Aggie Club, I was given the honor of answering Roll Call for Jerry.  It is a experience I will never forget.  To answer Roll, I was to light a candle in rememberance of Jerry.  I will carry the tag for his candle in my wallet forever.  My thoughts are with you.
-John Matthew Adam, gigiadam@gvtc.com
i cannot say that i knew jerry, or any of the other fallen students. but i can say that i knew him as a fellow aggie, among the thousands of us. my heart sank when i heard of the tragedy. i stayed home from school that day (i attend A&M cons. high school) to go up to the sight and help move some logs. it made me sick to be there, but it also made me
realize that this tragedy, however sad and strickening it is, has brought so many
people together to work with one another.  i have prayed for the families of the
deceased until it hurt. i cannot even begin to understand the pain that ya'll are feeling. i have visited the bonfire sight 3 times since it happened, and it still amazes me how many people have come together to mourn the loss of those twelve souls who died not in vain, but doing what they loved, and holding up one of A&M's greatest traditions. my heart goes out to the families hoping that they are able to get throught this as easy
as pssible. you are in my thoughts and prayers.  may God be with you all.
with love,
-justin goss, Brthart200@aol.com
My name is Amanda Thomas. I am not in any way involved with Texas A&M university: in fact, I am a longhorn fan. However, I know how hard it must be to lose a loved one, and even more so around the holidays. You know I wanted to write this to touch someones heart. Now I understand you are most likely getting thousands of these letters. But somehow I wanted mine to stand out, I wanted you to remember it long after the others were begging to wrinkle and wither. Now I know how hard it must be for you to do this. But I challenge you..it being thanksgiving to take a hour or two and think about
all the good things you have to be thankfull for, and even the not so good things that
made you stronger. God gave you a great friend, and companion. But yes he is gone, but his spirit is still very much alive. Thank you for your time. You are in my prayers.
Sincerly,
-Amanda Thomas, Angelcik26@aol.com

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