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Jacksonville high school mourns death of beloved student-athlete

Tommy Waters' parking space at Providence School was turned into a memorial for the popular senior on Friday. 

Student at Providence School of Jacksonville are grieving the death of a beloved classmate.

Providence senior Tommy Waters passed away on Thursday. He was the son of JSO Assistant Chief T.K. Waters.

PHOTOS: Tribute to Tommy Waters at Providence School 

Classes along with the football game were canceled Friday so students and staff could mourn.

Students painted Tommy’s parking spot to remember him. It will remain vacant the rest of the school year.

In a statement released by the school, they said he was “A wonderful student-athlete that was loved by our student body and staff.”

Action News Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson is the spokesperson for the school and a close friend of the Waters family.

“He was the type of person that would want to do right by everybody. He was well-liked. He had that kind of personality that you were just drawn to,” Jefferson said.

He said Waters played basketball and football for the high school. He said the teams plan on doing something in his honor.

Classes at Providence will resume Tuesday after the holiday weekend. We’re told grief counselors will be on hand for the students.