Sean Nelson
Sean loved art, poetry, reading and people. He was intelligent and an honor student. He had the chance to be in college his last year in school (12th grade).
He had two little brothers and a sister who loved him very much. He always was very logical in an argument, made sure he got his point across or just being the mediator. Sean was an honest person. He believed in karma.
We moved to a farm. It was a different life for all of us. In six months the accident happened and I lost Sean and his sister Danielle. It has been a big adjustment in our lives. I knew in my heart he would be glad to help others from his death, just because of the way he cared for people, family and friends. My family and I are overjoyed that my son could help others.
Bobby Nesbit
(Excerpted from Tideland News, August 10, 2005)
In Bobby Nesbit’s short life, he touched many people. The recent Swansboro High School graduate was killed when the bicycle he was riding collided with a car on NC 24 not far from his Hubert home.
Joy Kemper, his aunt, said that in looking back, she could sum up the 17-year-old’s life by quoting the Bible, James, chapter 1, verse 27, “What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.”
“Bobby was the definition of pure and undefiled religion,” said Kemper, who also served as a volunteer at the Teen Community Bible Study group. “Bobby would always help. He would drop anything, even at Teen CBS, to help anybody. He would do anything for anybody.”
She said that the youngster was known in his neighborhood for being available when needed.
Just recently he took care of lawn-mowing chores for a woman down the street who was hurt and unable to cut her own grass. Over the years, he would also cut the grass for a disabled neighbor when needed. He sought no compensation, Kemper said.
As news of his death spread through the community, she added, the impact of his actions became obvious as condolences and contributions poured in.
The young man‘s largesse was not confined to the neighborhood, either. Kemper said that the driver of the bus he rode to school mentioned to her that it was Bobby who took up for a young girl who rode the bus who was being picked on.
“Bobby sat with her the whole year,” Kemper explained. “He’s touched many lives and they’ve donated a lot.”
Joanne Scholl, teaching director at TCBS, said that Bobby grew during his time at the weekly study.
“He came into Teen Community Bible Study kind of hesitant, kind of shy… but very sweet, very helpful and always a giver,” she recalled. “As the months passed… he just kind of opened up.
“We watched him become the kind of person God wanted him to be.”
Kemper, who said that as the family struggles to cope with terrible tragedy, their hope is that Bobby will be emulated.
“I hope we have more teens out there who can follow in his footsteps,” she said. “Bobby’s going to be highly missed.”
