School mourns Trafford student
By Adam Smith
The North Jefferson News
School was in session at North Jefferson Middle School on Monday, but most of the day was spent grieving the loss of a fellow student.
Micah Shane Edwards, 14, of Trafford, was killed in a mobile home fire on Friday morning with his grandmother, 55-year-old Juanita Sue Calvert.
“The kids are struggling,” said Mary Beth Blakenship, principal of North Jefferson Middle School. “A lot of them knew him and grew up with him.”
Dr. Sherri Savage, director of the Jefferson County School System Guidance and Assessment Department, and other counselors from the system were at the school Monday, along with counselors from Warrior Elementary, Bryan Elementary, Snow Rogers Elementary, Gardendale High and Mortimer Jordan High schools.
There were also three youth pastors on hand Monday from local churches.
“I want to compliment Dr. Savage and her counselors and thank the principals who gave up their counselors for the day,” said Blankenship. “The kids had the opportunity to go to counselors throughout the day as they needed to.”
There were posters placed at the school that the students could sign. They also had the opportunity to write to Micah. Blankenship was going to give his parents the students’ writings and the posters.
“Just their ability to share and talk about things, to express themselves through art or written expression, was positive for them,” Blankenship said.
Firefighters from Warrior Fire and Rescue reportedly received the fire call before noon on Friday. Sgt. Randy Christian of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said that by the time deputies reached the scene, the fire had been extinguished.
The bodies of Edwards and Calvert were discovered after a walk-through of the residence, located at 9325 Dad’s Hill Road.
It is believed the victims died from smoke inhalation. Christian said the fire has been ruled accidental.
Blankenship was going to try to get the school back to a somewhat normal schedule on Tuesday. But she said with the funeral on Thursday, it might take some students the rest of the week to adjust.
Funeral arrangements were scheduled for 2 p.m. at Messmer Goodwin Funeral Home in Warrior. Visitation will be held from noon to time of service. Burial will follow in Elvester Cemetery in Warrior.
“Micah was an interesting character,” Blakenship said. “He was a huge Alabama fan. He would talk Alabama football with you all the time. … He was working hard this year to do everything he needed to do to get to the ninth grade. He was just a neat kid.”
Reporter Melanie Patterson contributed to this story.