MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — On Oct. 18, Baldwin County will come together to honor a woman who inspired many with her play on the basketball court - and more with her battle against breast cancer.
Baldwin County High School will be holding Tasha Butts Day on Friday. Butts died from breast cancer in October 2023, so Atrium Health Navicent and other medical organizations will also be in attendance, to help spread awareness about breast cancer.
Baldwin High principal Markeeta Clayton grew up in the same neighborhood as Butts. For the two of them, their friendship began on the basketball court.
"We grew up in the same neighborhood, same family and friends and we shared the same love for basketball," Clayton said.
Clayton says Butts was five years younger, but age didn't stop them from becoming fast friends. She says Butts even managed to beat her on the court when they played.
"Her dedication to the team, her teamwork, it was a level above those at her particular age level," Clayton said. "She had her dreams as she was gonna do how far she wanted to go at the sport at an early age."
Those dreams lead her to play for the University of Tennessee and the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.
"To be recognized and chosen as the head coach of Georgetown, I mean that was amazing," Clayton said. "That spoke to the talent she had. It's one thing to be talented at a sport but to be talented and to teach it to others and she has done that."
In November of 2021, Butts was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38. Friends say she never let it stop her, until she died from cancer in October of 2023.
Now, Baldwin High is celebrating her life and educating students and the public about breast cancer.