CLEVELAND — Jeremiah Kelly, an 18-year-old from Avon, passed away on April 22. On Wednesday night, hundreds of people gathered at Avon High School’s football field to honor his life.

Community members, friends, coaches and family spoke at the candlelight vigil. Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen was one of the first speakers.

“With the number one pick in this year’s heavenly draft, the angels choose—from Avon, Ohio—number 73, Jeremiah Kelly,” Jensen said.

Kelly was a powerhouse on the football field, but the person he was off the gridiron is how people have been remembering him.

Avon head football coach Mike Elder coached Kelly for years.

“A remarkable man who just did everything right, and I think Jeremiah, his best quality, was he made everyone feel important, and he made everyone feel special,” Elder said.

Elder said Kelly loved his family, was a great friend and had next to none . Elder said Kelly made everyone around him feel valued and respected.

“We started asking ourselves a lot why, why take Jeremiah? And I think we’ve turned that question into why are we still here? And then how can we live more like Jeremiah,” Elder said.

Kelly’s mother, Chiniqua Kelly, spoke on her son’s legacy.

“I take comfort in knowing that all the talks that we had, and the way that I raised him, reflected in every interaction he had with people throughout the community,” she said.

She said if people can take one thing from the way her son lived his life, it’s this:

“To always be kind, to be always be open to love, to always make sure everyone is seen,” she said.

Coach Elder shared one of his favorite memories of Kelly, that shows who he was. It happened after a football game this past season.

“He stood right outside this locker room and waited for every marching band member to walk by, thanking them for playing and sticking around. But that’s who he was,” he said.

The vigil ended with everyone gathering in the middle of the field to pray for Kelly and his family.