Javier Simpson stopped at the Sabine River before heading to a friend's house. He never got there

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was published in The Times on Aug. 22, 2018 following the death of Javier Simpson on June 4. It is republished today in honor of his life with permission of his mother, Janetta)

LOGANSPORT — Folks opting to attend the Travelers’ Rest Baptist Church in Longstreet on Sept. 9 are likely to get an earful of some full Gospel preaching from a young man who recently rededicated his life to Christian service due to the untimely death of his older brother in the Sabine River.

Emmanuel Simpson, better known to his friends as “Silk,” has narrowed his subject matter to a pair of potential topics: “If you’re scared of dying, then you’re not living,” or “Don’t let Satan say he won.”

Whichever road the sermon traverses through the 14-year-old preacher-to-be, it’s likely to include plenty of references to Javier Simpson, his older brother who drowned June 4 next to a floating dock just a few yards from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Substation in downtown Logansport.

Simpson left football practice near midday that fateful Monday just prior to celebrating with a few of his Logansport High School teammates by taking his first dip at the river where many go to cool themselves from the broiling Louisiana heat. He jumped in the water, developed leg cramps, according to his mother, Janetta Brakefield, and didn’t resurface. He was 15 years old.

In a flash, one of the most promising young men in DeSoto Parish was swept away, leaving not only a distraught mother and father, a twin and a little brother, but also an entire parish to mourn. A cousin of his mother had 550 programs printed for the “home-going” service in the Logansport gym, but more than 700 supporters filled the seats with positive thoughts and prayers.

Special ceremony to recognize life lost

The DeSoto Parish family will honor one of its fallen again Friday night during the DeSoto Parish jamboree at 7 p.m. at Logansport’s Tiger Stadium. Xavier Simpson, Javier’s twin brother, will don his brother’s jersey (No. 42) and head out on the field for the game’s first offensive play.

Xavier will run for one positive yard against the North DeSoto Griffins, then go to a knee. He’ll come off the field, shed the jersey while an announcement of the retirement of No. 42 is made over the intercom. A moment of silence will seal the ceremony — then life and football will go on.

Athletes wearing No. 42 for Mansfield (Brandon Adams) and North DeSoto (Caleb Williams) will serve as captains. Adams, who is recovering from an appendectomy, was friends with Javier.

Tissues are likely to be passed throughout what is expected to be a standing room only crowd. 

Sabine River looks deceivingly serene

On a recent Thursday afternoon, the Dennis Freeman Memorial Park dock where Javier took his last swim was deserted. A sign standing just a few feet from the floating dock read “Swim At Your own Risk,” and was highlighted by spider webs dangling off the left side. The sometimes unbenevolent Sabine River appeared serene, the antithesis of a tributary that would snuff a life all too soon.

Javier had never been swimming there before, so he probably was apprehensive jumping off the dock with Elvis Presley music playing in the background. It wouldn’t have been Javier’s choice of music, but the tunes were set by others. 

Project 9-11 earned Simpson accolades

Javier Simpson was so much more than just a high school football player dividing time between his father’s house in Logansport and his mother’s home in Longstreet. He was a regional champion in social studies for a project he developed about 9-11 with buddy Matthew Woods. The duo made it to state with the project, although they didn’t take home the chalice.

“JD was passionate about 9-11,” Janetta Brakefield said.

Woods said he felt it was his fault his friend is gone, because he wasn’t there to pull him out of the water. 

“We were supposed to watch out for each other,” said Woods, barely able to lift his eyes off the floor. “We would wake up and drink chocolate milk together. There was a time when I started down the wrong path and he got me back going right. He told me he’d be there for me. We were blood brothers.”

Javier’s father, Smoke Simpson, is still having trouble processing his son’s death more than two months after the tragic accident. With lip quivering, he did his best to vocalize what was special about his second oldest (by a minute) son.

“He loved football more than anything. Xavier loves basketball more, but Javier … it was football,” Smoke said. “And they went at it about that — but they challenged each other to get better on the football field.”

Simpson had a special place for his title ring

Mother Janetta maneuvered through several stages of grief that are well-documented on her Facebook page. She has since gathered herself, realizing she has two additional children who need her attention.

She showed up at the Logansport football field last Thursday wearing a corsage, made by a friend, that highlighted No. 42 and Javier’s image. She was also wearing Javier’s LHSAA state championship ring, won by her son with the Tigers in 2016 when he was just a freshman.

“JD liked everything neat and tidy and he wouldn’t wear the ring because he didn’t want to mess it up. The ring sat on top of my TV for two years,” Janetta said. “Even Christmas presents he’d leave in the package so they wouldn’t get messed up.”

Like his father, Xavier, who was at the dock that day, had a difficult time vocalizing about his twin. 

“The last time I saw him ” he said as his voice trailed off. “We were very close. Everywhere he went, I went. We had a great bond.”

Simpson was the boss, his grandma says

Grandmother Janice Townsley said the second oldest of her 10 grandchildren was funny and full of life.

“He kept you smiling all the time. He was a joy to be around,” Townsley said. “Even if he was fussing, he’d be smiling. And he was the boss even if he was the youngest twin.”

Woods said that when he received the call about his friend, it put him in shock and stymied his ability to talk. Last Thursday, that reticence had dissipated and he became a teenager who needed to air his thoughts.

“He sometimes would make chocolate milk come out his nose,” Woods said. “He’d pat you on the butt to congratulate you for doing something good. He was always telling me he’d beat me in something. But one time, he bought me a $150 belt in Dallas. He was an angel.”

Logansport football coach Kevin Magee struggled with the young man’s first name during the first two years he was in the program, calling him “Ha-vi-a” instead of “Ja-vi-air.”

“People kept laughing at me about that,” Magee said. “Javier had a phenomenal spring and was a weight-room guy. You couldn’t find a better kid. He was always where he was supposed to be and created no problems.”

A friend waited for a call that didn’t come

Javier and his friends weren’t supposed to be at the Sabine River dock that fateful Monday, according to LaCadrian Gant, one of his best friends. Javier had gone swimming in the pool at Gant’s house the previous day and was supposed to return that Monday.

“I was waiting on him to show up. He said he was going to take one more swim and then come. He never called me back,” Gant said. “I don’t trust the river, so I don’t swim there.”

At least Gant got to share one final football moment with his friend. Both had an interception earlier that day and completed a successful, leaping shoulder bump.

“At the end of practice, we shook hands and he left.”

His mom detested his choice of NFL teams

Javier Simpson was something of a hoarder who liked pinto beans with brown meat, rice and cornbread, and loved any kind of cake. And he loved to dance, often dancing throughout his mother’s home. He also liked the Baltimore Ravens, much to his mother’s consternation.

“We disagreed on that because I’m a Cowboys fan,” Janetta said, smiling. “We didn’t get along during football season.”

Javier and Xavier were/are taking college-level courses and were AP students, facing some of the toughest courses in the DeSoto Parish curriculum.

Javier’s brother gives meaning to death

Silk Simpson was one of the positives to come out of the life celebration of the 15-year-old Javier, lost in the prime of life. His speech at the home-going service was an emotional experience for many, including Janetta.

“I was so proud of him – everyone talked about how well he did,” Janetta said. “I stopped and cried because the spirit of God came to him during his speech."

The youngest Simpson was sporting some orange-topped hair following Thursday’s practice at Tiger Stadium as he talked about the guy he looked up to.

“He was a good brother and he kept my head straight. It was tough when I found out,” Silk Simpson said. “I knew God had his hands wrapped around all of us. We know he’s in a better place now.”

That’s something Silk is likely to be preaching on Sept. 9.

Twitter: @JimmyWatson6

If you go

DeSoto Parish Jamboree

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Logansport’s Tiger Stadium

Special event: The late Javier Simpson will have his No. 42 retired.

Admission: $8

Javier Simpson file

Favorite food: Pinto beans with brown meat, rice and cornbread.

Favorite team: Baltimore Ravens.

Favorite player: Ray Lewis.

Quirk: He was a hoarder of all things new.

Quirk 2: Would make chocolate milk come out his nose.

Passionate about: Social studies project on 9-11

Favorite music: Blues, Rap and R&B.

What they’re saying about Javier Simpson

Smoke Simpson, father: “He loved football more than anything.”

Janice Townsley, grandmother: “Even if he was fussing, he’d be smiling.”

Janetta Brakefield, mother: “JD liked everything neat and tidy, and he wouldn’t wear his state championship ring because he didn’t want to mess it up.”

Matthew Woods, friend: “There was a time I started down the wrong path and he got me back going right.”

LaCadrian Gant, friend: “I don’t trust the river, so I don’t swim there.”