JONES COUNTY, Ga. — Eddren Chester, 19, drowned in the Ocmulgee River on Friday, according to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
Chester played football as a Greyhound for Jones County High School. His teammates said they were grateful to have someone like him on the team when they were starting out as freshman.
"As a freshman coming in, he was somebody that you could talk to. Like, he'd teach you all the steps and he was like real wholesome," senior linebacker DJ Ingram said.
"Every time he scored he would dance in the end zone. Everybody was happy every time he scored because he's dancing (and it) kept a smile on everybody's face," senior defensive back Zach Hurt said.
Jones County football coach Mike Chastain called Chester a leader on and off the field.
"Just a guy that would come into work everyday and knew when to clock in and also a guy that knew how to have a good time when he wasn’t at work or at the facility working. He was a guy that just knew how to do it the right way," Chastain said.
Chester was found at Amerson River Park Friday night. Since then, his aunt Yolanda Hill said the family is adjusting to the news.
"It was heartbreaking and since then we've just been doing our best to take it a day at a time," Hill said.
Hill said the community has shown plenty of support during a difficult time.
"The calls, the responses, the friends that have showed up and said that he made a difference in their life has been a silver lining in a tragic situation," Hill said.
Jaylen Sandford said he's been Chester's best friend since middle school.
He said he spoke to Chester the morning of the incident and they were making plans to see each other.
“I called him and I’m glad that I did. Knowing that was the last time I was going to hear his voice just doesn’t sit right," Sanford said.
Sanford said he and Chester were more like brothers that always supported each other.
"At my basketball games he was always in the front row the front row, early to every game. He was the loudest one. Always recording, always cheering us on no matter who we were playing good team bad team. He was always front row," Sanford said.
One thing everyone said they will remember about Chester is his infectious smile.
"When you look through the pictures, the smile is consistent and it’s kind of one of those things if he’s smiling at you even if you maybe was having a bad day or weren’t intending to smile it’s probably going to cause you to smile too," Hill said.
The family plans to hold Chester's funeral service on Saturday.