LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — Selflessness, humility and dedication are just three of the qualities people have used to describe Demaryius Thomas.
Brandon Taylor knew Thomas for over 10 years and they grew up playing together.
"It hurts, it hurts a lot, but everybody's proud of him. You left a mark. You will always be remembered bro, we love you forever," said Taylor.
People around the world knew Thomas as a great athlete, but to folks in Laurens County and West Laurens High School, he had the nickname of "Bay Bay."
"The fame, sports, the money, the cars, it didn't change him. He remained the same humble guy, the same genuine guy," said Taylor.
Thomas' cousin, Laronica Jones, grew up with "Bay Bay" and knows him for how he would light up a room.
"That's what touched everybody's heart; the smile. You'd never see him frown, you'd never see him mad, he was always happy," said Jones.
Thomas showed his kindness and love for his community with the "Bay Bay" football camp for kids each summer. He made a point of always coming back to his roots.
"He touched a lot of souls around the nation, around the country, just all over, period. He touched a lot of lives, especially the babies. That's what got me... the babies. The babies just can't take it," said Jones.
Kayvon Webster played with Thomas on the Denver Broncos, and they competed in two Super Bowls together. He's remembering Thomas for his positivity.
"He would stop to take pictures with all the fans, all the kids, he didn't care what he had to do. He was a guy full of love, and he's a guy full of love, and he spread the love in Denver and everywhere he went," Webster said.
Jay Morrison worked with Thomas as a business partner and friend for the last three years of his life. He says Thomas was committed to paying it forward to children from his hometown.
"It was about making an impact and a legacy bigger than the Super Bowl or Pro Bowl or just sports, and his legacy will be greater than that," said Morrison.
Thomas would have turned 34 on Christmas Day. His exact cause of death has not been released yet.
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