Timmonsville, SC (WBTW) —Timmonsville standout Fanando Jackson is used to the hits on the field, but nothing prepared him for the unexpected and unfair death of his 12-year-old sister Fantasia in August during a drive by shooting.
“My sister, she had a good heart man. Like she didn’t bother no body. She was quiet. She was good, she was a lovable person. There was nothing about her that you disliked, ” Fanado said. “We were shocked like I don’t even want to talk about it. Like it was right there in front of me. Like I feel like I couldn’t protect her, I just couldn’t. I couldn’t do nothing.”
Fantasia was a bright light for Fanando and his family, with a smile that would grab anyone’s attention and an eye for her big brothers game.
“She would be smiling right over there. I missed that tackle, I missed this tackle.”
The Whirlwinds running back and linebacker isn’t angry about what happened anymore, but rather motivated by the tragedy.
“Seeing my momma cry daily like I have to do something about that. I feel like when she left us that day I think she left me on a mission like I gotta go get it.”
Fanando has done that as one of the Pee Dee’s best all-around players. The senior up to this point has rushed the ball 98 times for 752 yards and 6 touchdowns to go along with 36 tackles and an interception.
“You know I do see an extra burst you know I see a very focused young man every day in practice,” Timmonsville head coach Ronnie Baker said.
“She told me that if I keep doing what I am doing on the field I could go to the pros, like I have a chance,” Jackson said.
Fanando says he will continue to make his sister proud on and off the field and keep her memory with him for the rest of his life.
“Like I was saying her smile, it will always be there and how lovable of a person she was. we had a good bond, like I’ll never forget. I know she is smiling down somewhere.”
