LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — Monday, students at West Laurens High School are praying for Jose and Jesus Ibarra-Flores, who lost their dad in last week's wreck along I-75. 13WMAZ spoke to the school's band director and learned how the community is rallying around the two young men.
"My heart sank. Anytime you hear anything like that, it is bad enough when it is just one," director of the band of Laurens County Schools Richard Horne said about hearing that two of his students lost their father in a fatal wreck in Henry County.
"And then you find out you are connected to them in some way, the parents of a student," Horne said.
Henry County police say Jose Ibarra-Yanez the father of Jose and Jesus died last Thursday.
"Jose is a senior this year, Jesus is his younger brother," Horne said.
Horne says Jesus plays soccer while Jose plays the saxophone for West Laurens High.
"With Jose, he always so laid-back, very relaxed, calm kid, very polite, very respectful. Same thing with Jesus -- both great kids real calm, real collected," Horne said.
So now the West Laurens High School band Booster Club is stepping up.
"We are all Raiders and we take care of our own," Darlene Nobles president of the booster club said.
Nobles says they decided to start a fundraiser for Jose and Jesus.
"We had parents, band parents who were wanting to do something, people just want to do something to help, they want to do something to show, 'Hey, we care, we love you,'" Nobles said.
Nobles says they will be accepting cash donations until this Friday.
"Of course, in-house, they can bring it to the band room, we have a locked drop box there. They can mark it for who it is for and just contact us if they need to, and let us know they have it," Nobles said.
Right now, students at West Laurens High School are taking their milestone tests, but Horne and Nobles says they have a motto.
"Once a Raider, always a Raider," Nobles said.
The Raiders are helping each other, out no matter who needs it the most.
If you would like to help out, you can click the Facebook link above or find more details below:
Donations may be dropped in the drop box in the band room (seal in an envelope and write “Jose and Jesus” on the outside), mailed to:
WLHS Band Boosters
P.O.Box 1202
Dublin, GA 31021
They can also be brought to the awards cookout in the band room during class on Wednesday. Donations will be accepted through Friday, May 24th. Please make checks payable to WLHS Band Boosters.