Students in the Philadelphia Public School District in Neshoba County, Mississippi, showed up on campus Wednesday morning wearing red and black in memory of two high school seniors who died after a drowning accident at Lake Pushmataha on the Choctaw Indian Reservation last week.
The twins were fishing on the lake when it happened.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Department of Public Safety first reported that there was “an incident at Lake Pushmataha” on Thursday, April 17, at approximately 7 p.m. A later update shared that the victims involved, twin brothers Jamarion Grady and Camarion Grady, were not members of the tribe, so the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department took over the investigation. Despite occurring on tribal lands, the Choctaw Police Department has no jurisdiction over non-tribal individuals.
First responders pronounced Jamarion Grady dead at the scene. Camarion Grady was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he eventually also passed away on Sunday, the school district announced.
Due to the timing of the deaths, the Philadelphia Public School District issued individual statements.
Jamarion Grady, affectionately known as “Frog,” was “a vibrant, joyful spirit who brought life and laughter wherever he went.” Jamarion eventually wanted to become a real estate agent someday, a spokesperson said in a release from the school district.
In a later statement, the district described Camarion Grady as the student who “was the louder voice, the bigger laugh, the one always dancing, always talking, always reaching out to lift someone else up.” Camarion was also a football standout and “represented Philadelphia High School with the kind of spirit that made the halls feel like home.”
Funeral services for the beloved twin brothers will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. at Jerusalem Temple Church in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Beck Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and interment will be at Donald Rest Cemetery.
Community members posted photos showing themselves donning the Philadelphia High School colors, red and black, on Wednesday after the district urged them to do so “in a show of unity and strength …. as we stand together in remembrance and support of Camarion and Jamarion–Philly Strong.”
The Choctaw Tribal Schools and the Neshoba County School District also extended their condolences to the family and community through social media posts.
Correction: This story originally said the funeral would be on April 29; it is on Saturday, April 26. We apologize for the error.
