***For the full tribute page to Wyatt, click here

How do you eloquently describe a person who is genuinely kind to everyone around them? How do you fully articulate the essence of a boy whose life inspired an entire community? Wyatt Reed lived his life with sincerity and remarkable kindness. He befriended anyone who walked the halls of Herrin High School and spread kindness everywhere he went. Wyatt radiated positivity and joy, and anyone who knew him felt truly blessed. On Sunday, April 13, Wyatt passed away after a four-year battle with cancer. His obituary stated: “Wyatt was a special gift from God from day one. He was full of love for everyone. He considered all his friends ‘brothers and sisters.’ That is just who Wyatt was.” For many, the impact Wyatt had on their lives extends beyond mere friendship; it encompasses a lifetime of cherished memories and the legacy he has left behind. To gain a closer glimpse of the legacy he left, the Tiger Tattler interviewed some of the people Wyatt inspired. Here is what they had to say: 

Gigi George: “My mom and his mom grew up together and they were best friends in high school. Then they had children at around the same time. We would hang out now and then. You know, we grew up together. We were in the same grade. We’ve always been in the same grade and always very close. He looks up to my mom as a second mom, and I as his sister. It kind of just happened that way. He can turn the atmosphere so quickly. He walks into the room, and it’s automatic happiness. He creates positivity everywhere. I haven’t known a time without him at all. But he was always somebody I could lean on.”

Ava Leifer: “I first got to know Wyatt because I was in child development and parenting class with him. I had never met him before, but I was just like, “Who is this kid? He has so much energy and he’s so happy. Like, who is he? How have I never seen him before?” Then he sat next to me and was always talking to me. He asked me to be his Valentine and also asked me to be his Homecoming date. He was just always acknowledging me and putting a smile on my face. From then on, he would always say hi to me in the hallways. He would always talk to me. He was just very friendly to everybody and was somebody I wanted to be around.”

Ella Holthaus: “My friend Izzy and I were walking down the hallway, and he had walked up to us and he said, ‘Hey, Ella, hey Isabella,’ and he gave us a big hug and was like, ‘you’re just my favorite red-headed sisters!’ He’s just so sweet. That was definitely significant to me because that was when I first met him, and it meant a lot.”

Mr. Barrington: “I would give him a hard time about being a Bumblebee fan from the Transformers movies, and he would tell me he was a Megatron fan, and I would say, ‘No. You said you were Bumblebee.’ He’d give me a hard time, and he’d always yell my name, ‘Barrington!’ and I knew he was coming. We had a very good relationship, and I first met him in the gym, in P.E. Then, in the last few years, in the hallways, he always had a smile on his face. I could always count on, when he was here, my name would be yelled out in lunch or the hallway, and I’d give it right back. So by the end, once he got over me giving him a hard time about Bumblebee, he became Megatron, and that’s what he will always be to me.”

The author Sonya Parker once said, “Almost everyone will make a good first impression, but only a few will make a good lasting impression.” Wyatt encompassed this philosophy in his interactions with anyone he met. Looking back at Wyatt’s interactions with others, it becomes evident that he genuinely cared for everyone regardless of how long he had known them or how close they were to him. 

Once you start talking to Wyatt, one of the first aspects many notice is his comedic personality and joyous humor. For Wyatt, humor was a gift he used to make other people laugh and smile. No matter what mood someone was in, Wyatt somehow always found a way to tell a joke that made them laugh. 

Mr. Priest: “I think one of the other traits for Wyatt is a sense of humor. I think everyone who knows him would agree, just such a great sense of humor. Just that dry, witty, sarcastic sense of humor matches up with a lot of us, and it’s great to laugh and joke with him. It really has some intellectual and well-thought-out barbs and jibes. Really just a sharp, witty sense of humor. For a young person, you really don’t find that, so I think that’s something that sets him apart.”

Lauren Hargraves: “Wyatt plays a lot of jokes. This is the oldest joke in the book. He’ll say, ‘Why can’t a vampire and a snowman cross at the same time? They’ll both give you frostbite.’”

Ms. Mohr: “I don’t know what was going on in class. I don’t know what we were doing, but he got up and he stood up and said, ‘I got a big butt!’ And he slapped his butt. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ So when kids say things like that, I have to write it on a post-it, so I have a post-it from forever ago and it’s on my calendar right now and it says, ‘I have a big butt.’ And it doesn’t say Wyatt Reed, it says Megatron, and it’s on my board.”

Although humor played a key role in his interactions, Wyatt had many other qualities that inspired so many around him. His personality could brighten up any day or situation. There are no words that could fully encapsulate Wyatt and his amazing personality and gifts. 

Ava Goetting: “Happy, in fancier words, optimistic. He’s very creative. He’s bold. He’s kind. Wyatt has taught me that you can be happy no matter what. You can always see the bright side of things in life, even when they seem dreadful. He just made me feel happier because he was always one of the happiest people I’ve ever met. It was just good vibes all around.”

Ms. Bleyer: “Everyone loved him in class, so he kinda ran the show some days, telling jokes or whatever he needed to talk about that day was what we talked about that day. I think he liked art. He was never going to make a career out of art, but he enjoyed it. No matter how many hits that kid has taken, he was always positive and always getting back up. He loved being here, and he loved everyone here at Herrin High School. That’s inspiring, especially on the hard days as a teacher when you’re dealing with students not turning in assignments or discipline problems. He was like a breath of fresh air to remind you that that stuff doesn’t necessarily matter. What matters is the relationships you’re building and supporting the students that you do have in class.”

Mr. Jeff Johnson: “Wyatt was kind-hearted, loving and selfless. He spent most of his time caring for others and asking how they are doing. He was always thinking of others. The one thing that always struck me with Wyatt is that you could be having a rough day, run into Wyatt, talk to him, and, after you talk to him, leave with a smile on your face. He always had a kind word.”

Through his deeply meaningful conversations and heartfelt personality, Wyatt connected with so many people and invested in their lives. Amidst the struggles he went through, he never ceased to spread positivity and joy to others. The number of people whose lives have been impacted by Wyatt is incredible and a testament to his character.

Mr. Roberts: “The biggest thing I can say about him is that he’s courageous. Wyatt makes me look at my life differently. He makes me take stuff day by day, not year by year or down the future, live day by day, live minute by minute, and just in general enjoy everything and everybody around you. If more people were like Wyatt, then this world would be in a lot better place. He’s inspired me to be a better person. Be happy. Just live, you know you guys know me, I’m just happy as it is, I see and talk to you, but he’d make me go farther. Just, you know, help more people and just be a better person. That’s what I can take from this. If you know Wyatt, he’d want you to be a better person because he’s just a good dude.”

Aubrey Huff: “Every time I see him, he calls me his little sister. I don’t have an older sibling, so it’s something amazing. We have a special bond. He always hugs me and tells me he loves me. He just shows me what love really feels like because he’s just such a great person.”

Ms. Goetting: I just keep reflecting on the light and joy he brought to everyone… kinda like an angel just passing through, reminding all that he touched to be the good and find the good. Never once asking anything of anyone… besides one of those good hugs.We are all so blessed to have had a moment with Wyatt in our lives

Mr. Anderson: “We all go through bad days, but that young man went through so much. It was his approach. He still wanted to be around everyone. Even amidst the trials, he still acted the same way and treated everyone the same way. Wyatt has put things in perspective for me. To value every day as a gift from God, because we’re not guaranteed the next day, minute or hour.”

Cooper Christ: “Wyatt has taught me that everybody can be going through something, and they could be hiding it. He was always in a good mood, even though he was going through so much. And some people can be going through something and still be in a good mood. We knew Wyatt was going through a hard time, and he still had a smile on his face. It just makes me think about the people going through stuff, and we don’t know, but they still come to school with a smile on their face. Just to treat everybody like they could be going through something we don’t know about.”

Additionally, Wyatt inspired everyone he came in contact with to have a positive outlook, no matter the circumstances. Despite his cancer treatments and his inability to attend school in person at times, Wyatt never complained or looked down; he was more focused on spreading joy and hope to those around him. 

Brooklyn Riggs: “He made me think about what I have and how lucky I am to be able to go through life like this. He just showed me that even though there’s stuff going on, you should just be happy. He inspired me by just being himself. He never faked anything. I think that inspired me as well.”

Mr. Barrington: “He’s put things into perspective. What he’s gone through the last four years, I will never understand. But every single day that he’s in this building, he brings positivity. There was never a day when he was negative. He was always, “What can I do to help everybody else?” He was always smiling and checking on me—“how’s your day?” and asking me how my boys were doing, asking me questions like that. He’s the kid who worries about everybody else and not himself. He’s definitely a special individual, and I’ve been fortunate, just like everybody else in this building, that he’s been in our lives these last four years. Wyatt has definitely changed my perspective on things. If the world could have Wyatt’s outlook on life and personality, we’d be a way better place. He’s definitely made me a better person because I see what he’s going through on a daily basis, and if he’s being that positive all the time, why can’t I? I think he’s a natural-born leader. I think the things that we’ve gotten to know him and be around him, it’s so contagious, and I hope everybody in this building and our school system takes something from him. Always be kind, and good things follow.”

Mrs. George: “Wyatt’s legacy, his sweet soul, his love, will always be alive. We will love you [Wyatt] and miss you more than words could ever describe, but we may all shine on in your honor. Love you forever, Megatron.”

Addison Stinson: “He always makes sure that somebody’s okay, no matter what. He’s inspired me a lot because no matter what, he keeps going, and he’s always so positive about everything, and he reminds me to be positive about everything. Anytime he sees me in the hallways, he’ll always hug me, and it makes my day better. He’s just super positive and a good person to be around overall, and it just helps with my day.”

While everyone at HHS and in the community could probably share enough memories to fill an entire book, we highlighted some of the favorite ones from his friends, classmates, teachers and staff. The joy and laughter that everyone felt and expressed while sharing their favorite memory was the exact thing that Wyatt naturally gifted to so many people. 

Parker Coop: “I loved this year, whenever he got to film tigers on the street with us. I remember our first time doing it; there was even a picture Ms. Goetting took, and he looked so happy. It was such a fun time doing tigers on the street with him because of how much he enjoyed it. We went around and we interviewed some of his friends and some of his favorite teachers, and I even think he interviewed one of the security officers. Everyone seemed to enjoy getting to talk to him. You could tell how much he enjoyed it.”

Mrs. Allen: “We had the assembly this school year for the homecoming pep session, and I brought Wyatt down to the floor and let him speak to the whole student body. Everyone was cheering and clapping, and afterwards he told me he loved me and gave me a big hug.”

Gigi George: “If I had to pick one [favorite memory], it would be Homecoming of my sophomore year in 2023. I was on homecoming court, and I had my car, and I let him ride in it for the football game. We sat there. We were by ourselves before the football game, going around the track, and he was almost in tears. He was like, ‘I’ve never been in this nice car before.’ He loved it. He loves transformers, so it was cool being in a sports car, and he loved it, every second of it. He’s such an amazing person and has impacted everyone’s lives.”

 Perhaps one of the most important interviews is the one with Wyatt himself. On Feb. 21, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Wyatt. Throughout the interview, Wyatt’s responses only affirmed what so many people have already shared about him in this article. 

Wyatt Reed: “My highlight of high school has been spending time with all my friends and getting to hang out with Lauren. I’ll never forget Night to Shine because I got to meet a lot of new people and dance the night away. Going to high school basketball games has also been so fun because I can interact with others. Ms. Mohr has been one of the biggest influences during high school because she has always been there for me. Honestly, the best piece of advice I have received throughout high school is to be myself, stay positive and deliver positivity to anyone who needs it. That’s the type of legacy I want to leave: a legacy of positivity because everyone needs it in their lives. For anyone struggling to find their place in high school, seek the guidance of someone around you.”

Hearing the stories of Wyatt is truly a testament to his character and who he was as a person. This emotional process of gathering the stories about the impact Wyatt has left truly resonates with me. Everyone has a story of how Wyatt made an impact on them and the inspiration he provided. I have witnessed students and staff alike recount their favorite memories of Wyatt, reminiscing about moments they will cherish for the rest of their lives. Mr. Anderson, for instance, will never forget the conversations he had with Wyatt each morning. Mr. Priest will always remember Wyatt’s smile and shining personality, which served as a beacon of light to others. Lauren, his girlfriend, will always reflect on the countless dates she and Wyatt shared over the past few years. 

Wyatt’s legacy is of a greater magnitude than he could have ever imagined leaving behind. He has transformed many people’s outlooks on life, including my own. I personally will always cherish the moments I shared with him and the laughter we experienced together. Though I will profoundly miss him, I will never forget the impact Wyatt Reed had on my life, just as he did on those around him. Each of the memories and moments we have of Wyatt will remain in our hearts forever. Through stories, photos, laughter, and tears, Wyatt’s memories will stay with us for a lifetime. Mr. Priest reflected on Wyatt’s life: “You know, at the end of the day, it is going to be very sad for a while, but I know that he wants us to remember him with a smile before the tears. And the tears will be here, but the smiles will remain, and I think that’s what Wyatt would want from all of us.” 

These next few weeks, months, and years may be tough as the loss of Wyatt has left such a vacant space of joy in our school. But with the strength of our friendship and community, we can unite in our grief and sharing of memories to comfort each other, to keep his legacy alive. Each of us has a story about Wyatt to share, so let’s share that with the world and keep the legacy of his life visible and central to our own lives. As Wyatt himself once said, “Leaving a legacy of positivity is what I want because everyone needs it in their lives.” Mission accomplished, Wyatt, forever fly high…