When squadron 13 was disbanded, Jerry and Shane went to Squadron 17 together. My wife and I had the opportunity to sit across from Jerry at the Squadron luncheon on that parents weekend. I do not believe that Jerry has ever met a stranger. He really had a charming personality. He was a young man that was going places, and was a real leader.
When Shane called
that morning and told us that Jerry had died, we cried. Still today,
we do not fully understand why something so tragic had to happen to such
a fine young man. Someday, my first question to the Lord will be,
Why? Even today, as I write this I hurt for Jerry's parents and know
the emptyness that they must still feel, especially, having just passed
the anniversary of the accident. You are still in our prayers.
You are
to be commended for
the fine young man that you raised in this life, and for the witness and
testimony that he still is even in death. May God bless you in these
days ahead.
I'm sorry I never
got a chance to meet Jerry even though we walked through the same halls
of Lamar High School and Texas A&M University. Never have I seen
a person have such a strong impact on such a big community and that says
alot about Jerry and his parents who raised him. But the thing that matters
the most is that Jerry lost his life doing something that he loved, and
took a lot of pride in doing, and there is no better way to leave here
when you have investing your time into something that you love. My heart
goes out to the Self
family, stay strong, he is in gods hands now. Your in my prayers.
I played football with your son and I want y'all to know that you had trained him up well. He showed people the love of Christ and he always put others before himself. I am thankful for the times that I had with your son. Jerry was a blessing in my life.
Jerry was an unforgettable person and friend. His dad Mike and my dad are really good friends and Jerry use to always come over for those "late night pool parties". Jerry never excluded anyone and was always there to help another out. I remember one time at one of the parties, we needed to pump the volleyballs up with air, and Jerry volunteered, and of course my parents convinced me into riding with him to the store, (knowing i had a crush on him) we rode to the store, with the country music blaring of course. Jerry sang at the top of his lungs the whole way there. Ever since that night I didn't just look at Jerry as a crush, I saw him as a wonderful person, inside and out. Its unfortunate that he is gone now, but at least he's in an awesome place where he can sing those country songs at the top of his lungs and watch over all of his companions, family and friends. I knew Jerry pretty well. He was kind and thoughtful, I didn't have very many friends so I really apreciated that fact. I moved away from Arlington in 1998, I cant believe I am hearing about this 3 years later. I have had many of my friends friends talk about that bonfire tradition. I wish people didn't have to get hurt or killed because of things that might have been avoided. I have lost a few friends now; it makes you wonder whats the point, why them and not me. I guess no one knows but I do believe in heaven, especially for good people like Jerry. Jerry-I am sorry it has taken me almost two years to write this. I know we have had our ups and downs but all I want to say is that I love you. I know it probably wouldn't happen if the bonfire accident happened just because of who we were. Now that l look back I wish I could have told you to your face.
I can't express how
proud I am of you for all that you did for me, mom, dad, memaw, the rest
of the family, and everyone else. I can't tell you how happy I was knowing
I was going to come down to A&M to visit you and for the bonfire, but
when Dad woke me up crying saying "the stack had fell" and he couldn't
get a hold of you my heart dropped. And
then when I saw Jeff
in the state that he was, I couldn't hold it in. I couldn't believe
that it could happen.
In basic training I looked foward to talking to you and telling you all the things that I was doing. Jeff told me later that you were so proud of me and that you were in the same boat about looking foward to my calls.
I talk about you all the time. You wouldn't believe how much I have become an A&M fan now. You have opened my eyes to life. I pray that one day we will be together and I will be able to tell you all of this face to face.
Instead of writing
about all the memories I have (good and bad) I want to let you and everybody
else hear what I should have told you years ago. I thank you for
who you are and what you have done. To all those that have posted prayers,
thoughts, and memories, I want to thank you and let you know that the Self
family appreciates every letter.
To all those that
knew Jerry personally, I want to thank you for putting up with him and
making him who he was.
God bless all.
Gig 'em.
Jerry was a great man with a big heart. As a teammate of Jerry's on the Lamar football team I was amazed at the heart he played the game with, and of course I will always remember that big smile.
-Kris Morris (LHS '97)