AND WELCOME IN A SELFLESS GIFT THE RESULT OF A TRAGIC DEATH OF A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER IN SELMA MORGAN ACADEMY PLAYER CADEN TALIYAH DIED AFTER SUFFERING A BRAIN INJURY DURING FRIDAY’S GAME. WE HAVE LIVE TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT. FIRST, LET’S GET TO WVTM 13 S LISA CRANE LIVE IN SELMA. LISA, YOU SPOKE WITH THE SCHOOL’S HEADMASTER TODAY. YEAH, WE ARE AT MORGAN ACADEMY, WHERE CADEN TALIYAH WAS A JUNIOR AND THIS IS THE FOOTBALL FIELD WHERE HE LED THE SENATORS AS THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK. NOW THERE ARE UNDER 400 K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS AT THIS SMALL SCHOOL, MAKING THIS UNEXPECTED LOSS THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO BEAR. BUT THE HEADMASTER OF THIS CHRISTIAN PRIVATE SCHOOL SAYS BECAUSE OF WHO CADEN WAS, THERE IS REASON TO CELEBRATE. HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. OBVIOUSLY HE WAS THE QUARTERBACK ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, WHICH TAKES A LOT OF LEADERSHIP. THAT WAS JUST HIS NATURE. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIM WITH EASE. MORGAN ACADEMY HEADMASTER, DOCTOR BRIAN OLIVER SAYS CADEN TALIYAH RIELLY WAS AN ALL AROUND AMAZING KID. HE EXCELLED IN FOOTBALL, BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL. HE WAS A GREAT ATHLETE. HE WAS A FANTASTIC STUDENT. AS WELL. BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS DEFINED BY MUCH MORE THAN THAT. WHILE HE WAS HERE, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HERE AT MORGAN ACADEMY SAY MORE THAN THE ATHLETICS AND THE ACADEMICS. CADEN WAS A CHRISTIAN AND MORE THAN ACCOLADES ON THE FIELD OR IN THE CLASSROOM. HE FELT HIS PURPOSE WAS TO LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST. THERE’S SOME GRIEVING AND SADNESS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR FAITH, WE UNDERSTAND WHERE CADEN IS NOW. AND SO THERE’S SOME CELEBRATION TO AND CELEBRATING THAT, YOU KNOW, HE FULFILLED EVERY ONE OF HIS DAYS ON THE EARTH WITH A PURPOSE. OF COURSE, THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY AREN’T SAD AND THEY DON’T MISS HIM AT A PRAYER SERVICE YESTERDAY, CADEN’S DAD SHOWED UP TO SPEAK TO HIS SON’S CLASSMATES, OFFERING SUPPORT DURING HIS OWN UNIMAGINABLE GRIEF. I’M HEARTBROKEN THAT HE’S NOT HERE ANYMORE, BUT I CANNOT BLAME GOD FOR WANTING TO ABSOLUTE BEST FOR HIS TEAM. MAKE NO MISTAKE, CADEN KAYLIA WAS THE BEST. I LOVE YOU.
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Funeral arrangements announced for high school football player Caden Tellier
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Funeral arrangements have been announced for high school football player Caden Tellier.Morgan Academy player Caden Tellier died on Saturday, Aug. 24, after suffering a brain injury during the previous Friday's game. Tellier was a junior and led the Spartans as the starting quarterback.Video above: Morgan Academy headmaster celebrates the life of Caden TellierHis mother posted on Facebook that he donated his organs in a "final act of generosity."Public visitation will be held at Christ The King Episcopal Charismatic Church in Selma on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m.The family is holding two separate locations for his funeral service on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 11 a.m.Immediate family members, junior class members, teammates and their families, and their church family are welcome at Christ King Charismatic Episcopal Church on Highland Avenue in Selma.All other attendees are asked to attend the secondary location at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church on Dallas Avenue in Selma.The funeral procession will leave the church on Highland Avenue and pass the church on Dallas Avenue, where all other attendees can join. It will end at New Live Oak Cemetery.Those who were at the first church location can enter the cemetery, while those who were at the second location are asked to park in the Memorial Stadium parking lot and walk over to the cemetery. About Caden TellierThe headmaster of the Christian-based, private school said that because of who Caden was, there is reason to celebrate. “He had always been in leadership positions," Dr. Bryan Oliver said. "Obviously, he was the quarterback on the football team, which takes a lot of leadership. That was just his nature. He was able to bring people together. They would follow him with ease.”Oliver called Caden an all-around amazing kid. He excelled in football, baseball and basketball.“He was a great athlete," Oliver said. "He was a fantastic student as well. But, you know, he was defined by much more than that while he was here.”Students and teachers at Morgan Academy say more than the athletics and academics, Tellier was a Christian. And more than accolades on the field or in the classroom, he felt his purpose was to lead others to Christ.“There's some grieving and sadness, but also, you know, with our faith, we understand where Caden is now," Oliver said. "And so, there's some celebration, too, and celebrating that, you know, he fulfilled every one of his days on the earth with a purpose.”Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't sad and they don't miss him. At a prayer service on Aug. 26, Caden's dad showed up to speak to his son's classmates, offering support during his own unimaginable grief.“I'm heartbroken that he is not here anymore," Jamie Tellier said. "But I cannot blame God for wanting the absolute best for his team. Make no mistake, Caden Tellier was the best. I love you. Thank you all.”
SELMA, Ala. —
Funeral arrangements have been announced for high school football player Caden Tellier.
Morgan Academy player Caden Tellier died on Saturday, Aug. 24, after suffering a brain injury during the previous Friday's game. Tellier was a junior and led the Spartans as the starting quarterback.
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Video above: Morgan Academy headmaster celebrates the life of Caden Tellier
His mother posted on Facebook that he donated his organs in a "final act of generosity."
Public visitation will be held at Christ The King Episcopal Charismatic Church in Selma on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The family is holding two separate locations for his funeral service on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 11 a.m.
Immediate family members, junior class members, teammates and their families, and their church family are welcome at Christ King Charismatic Episcopal Church on Highland Avenue in Selma.
All other attendees are asked to attend the secondary location at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church on Dallas Avenue in Selma.
The funeral procession will leave the church on Highland Avenue and pass the church on Dallas Avenue, where all other attendees can join. It will end at New Live Oak Cemetery.
Those who were at the first church location can enter the cemetery, while those who were at the second location are asked to park in the Memorial Stadium parking lot and walk over to the cemetery.
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About Caden Tellier
The headmaster of the Christian-based, private school said that because of who Caden was, there is reason to celebrate.
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“He had always been in leadership positions," Dr. Bryan Oliver said. "Obviously, he was the quarterback on the football team, which takes a lot of leadership. That was just his nature. He was able to bring people together. They would follow him with ease.”
Oliver called Caden an all-around amazing kid. He excelled in football, baseball and basketball.
“He was a great athlete," Oliver said. "He was a fantastic student as well. But, you know, he was defined by much more than that while he was here.”
Mother says son will donate organs in update about Alabama HS football player killed
Students and teachers at Morgan Academy say more than the athletics and academics, Tellier was a Christian. And more than accolades on the field or in the classroom, he felt his purpose was to lead others to Christ.
“There's some grieving and sadness, but also, you know, with our faith, we understand where Caden is now," Oliver said. "And so, there's some celebration, too, and celebrating that, you know, he fulfilled every one of his days on the earth with a purpose.”
Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't sad and they don't miss him. At a prayer service on Aug. 26, Caden's dad showed up to speak to his son's classmates, offering support during his own unimaginable grief.
“I'm heartbroken that he is not here anymore," Jamie Tellier said. "But I cannot blame God for wanting the absolute best for his team. Make no mistake, Caden Tellier was the best. I love you. Thank you all.”
