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Age at Death: 17
Cause of Death: rare kidney failure
A memorandum
by Matthew Donovan
I remember Jeffery starting in 4th grade. Jeffery was never a cool kid, in fact, he was frequently picked on and bullied through his life. He was a clogger, and this definitely didn't help with the uncool status. (btw, how courageous was he to get up on stage and clog, knowing he would later be picked on for it?!) i do remember him being kind and a friend to those who no one else would have as friends - particularly special needs kids. if that doesn't give you chills, i guess not much will... i remember a time when my Mom had picked myself and my friend Michael Lorick up from school (probably 9th grade - hadn't started to drive yet) and we were driving home through Murraywood. we were about to pass Jeffrey and my Mom noticed this. She said we should offer him a ride home, and i cringed because that's what selfish teens do. I'm so glad we gave him that ride home and learned a lesson about kindness from my Mom and about gratefulness from Jeffery. Jeffery's death was shrouded in mystery. I remember the announcement over the loudspeaker in school that he had died. There were accusations against his father, even on the news. Well, i'm here to set the record straight. A couple years ago after i moved back to columbia i was driving through Murraywood and saw his Dad doing some yard work in front of their house. I was inspired to stop and say hello. When i told his Dad who i was, and that I had been in the same class as Jeffrey, tears welled up in his eyes as he told me he had just been to the cemetery that day. he also went on to tell me that a cousin and uncle later died of the same rare disease that affected Jeffrey's kidney. the disease is completely hereditary and comes on suddenly as an adult. i could feel that his Dad still missed his son so much, but i felt incredibly blessed to be able to let him know that i thought of Jeffery too, and was grateful for him being in my life. Here's to Jeffery Wescott, a young man with a kind, courageous heart. Thanks, Jeffery.
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Danny Frye
Jeffery was the first person to knock on my families door when we moved to Irmo in 1980. He was very kind and welcoming. Status is never about what you wear or who you are. Every time I pass his house on my way to see my parents I think of him. Jeffery was quiet and timid but he was an important addition to this world. No matter how he passed it will always be remembered as tragic. I remember the morning in the choir room when they told us and all I could think is he was the first person I met when I moved to Irmo and the last person I ever thought would be gone. He may have been lonely in life but I will never forget that first knock on the door. God bless Jeffery.Troy Watson
I never knew Jeffery the way Matt graciously described him but now wish that I had been his friend...Prayerfully, I will see Jeffery again and be able to tell him so...Dina Robinson (Brandon)
Jeffery sounds like a person I would have loved to have known and had as a friend. Thanks for sharing your story with us Matt.Kimberly Sox (Fowler)
Jeffrey was my best friend and boyfriend in 6th grade. He was the sweetest ,gentlest guy in the world. It broke my heart when we learned that he had passed. You will always be in my heart... Kim SoxKelly Catoe (Maceyka)
This was a message sent to me from joewanna mcdaniel
let me start off to say when i moved here from n.j i had no friends only my cousins. i started off at irmo hgh and met jeffery. he was a friend of mines friend and i got introduced to the person that would be my friend later. i miss him and the day he died was the saddest day of my life. he was acting strange that friday telling people that he loved them and that he was sorry not knowing that that monday my heart would break i miss him and go to his stone on that wall every november 30-31 to tell him i miss him. i blamed his dad because i heard alot of things and then since 1988 to 2011 did i find out that he had died of a kidney desease. i wish you were in the ground so i could sit next to you and put flowers on your grave . and to jeffs dad,mom,and patrick you have a special angel and we will see him again soon.and i deeply apolgize for me blaming you mr wescott
joewanna