A pair of memorial benches were unveiled at Tracy Brown Field to honor Avett Jackson and Bennett Rabern, two Morgan County Middle School students who tragically lost their lives in an ATV accident earlier this year.
The benches were revealed on Tuesday, May 13, prior to the GHSA Class AA baseball semifinal doubleheader between Morgan County and Franklin County. Fans, family, and friends gathered for the ceremony.
Community member Ray Stapleton discussed the tragic loss and how Avett and Bennett were cherished. He highlighted their accomplishments as young athletes and the lasting impact they had on their peers.
The benches were crafted in the granite lab at Elbert County High School, with assistance from other local companies. They were placed at the baseball stadium because both Avett and Bennett loved the sport.
Alton Mercer, a Madison resident with roots in Elberton, played a key role in making the dedication a success.
“I own Elite Stone out of Elberton. We are a granite manufacturer/ quarrier,” Mercer said.
“Whenever a student passes away at one of the schools in a town where we have an employee living, we quarry granite and donate the materials and supplies needed to the Elbert County High School Granite Lab class for them to make the family a bench. The students at the high school do the work.
Whenever a child passes away, everyone wants to help. Donating the benches to the schools is something we are grateful to be able to do.”
Additionally, MCMS Principal Hillary Meeler, Morgan Athletic Director Greg Thompson, Al Kimsey, Kris Hendrix, John King, Matt Knight, and John Kink contributed to the dedication for Avett and Bennett.
Both boys played multiple sports at Morgan County Middle School, and the Morgan County Charter School System believed that the baseball stadium was the perfect venue for them to be recognized.
“Avett and Bennett had a profound love for baseball, and now, through these benches, their presence will always be a part of our field, our team, and our hearts,” the school system said in a statement via social media.
“They will forever be Bulldogs. May we continue to be a community that honors and remembers the lives of these two precious young men, and may their memory inspire us to lead with love, strength, and unity.”
Avett Jackson and Bennett Rabern tragically lost their lives on Jan. 20, 2025, but their memories live on.