PALATKA, Fla. — Tuesday night, a community came together in a show of support for the family of 9-year-old Johnathan "Tate" Ricks. He drowned after falling from a boat on the St. Johns River over the weekend.
There will be a memorial service for Tate on Thursday, but Tuesday, a candlelight vigil was held along the water Tate enjoyed so much.
The crowd gathered at the Palatka city docks was silent as a man prayed, saying, "In these difficult times, words are never adequate but we do know our prayers will reach God's throneroom."
Many of the people gathered at the candlelit vigil prayed for comfort, peace and understanding after an unimaginable tragedy.
Tate, a third-grader, died after investigators say he fell into the St. Johns River after the boat he was on was hit by a large wake. He was out fishing with his grandmother's boyfriend, which was one of his favorite things to do.
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"He was a good kid. He was loved by everybody. He's going to be missed terribly," his grandmother Suzette Guess said.
You could see the sadness in Guess' eyes as friends, loved ones and strangers offered her hugs and words of encouragement. Others, could only offer their tears in solitude.
Before the vigil, Guess expressed her gratitude for the support her family received from the moment word got out that Tate was missing.
“I’ve come to find out in the last few days this is a small community. When stuff happens here in this community, the community pulls together and comes together," Guess said.
Now together, this community remembers Tate and vows to stand by his family's side in the difficult days to come.
Investigators say the grandmother's boyfriend Ricky Gurthie tried to save Tate but failed and barely made it to shore himself. He is still in the hospital. Tate's funeral is set for Thursday. There will also be a benefit at the Putnam County Speedway on Saturday to help raise money for Tate's family.
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