Jay David Randolph Jr. was born March 21, 1977 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. His parents, Jay Sr and Amanda, had been trying to have children for several years and finally, after being told it might never happen, they were seeing their hopes come to life. Growing up, Jay Jr had the life of most children; he developed a love of sports and at the age of 6 decided he wanted to be a baseball player like his Dad. He started playing tee ball and played shortstop and second base. School was just like most kids, he loved it for a little while then hated it on days when he was tired or would rather stay home and play. Sometimes he would stare out the window at school imagining the days he could just play baseball all day. Jay began to excel in his studies and before long was recognized as being very intelligent and was quickly promoted to the talented and gifted program in his school. Weekends were busy. Like every other home in their neighborhood, Jay Sr took pride in his home and in the way it looked. The entire family spent many hours in the yard and working on their home, painting, replacing trim, mowing, planting trees, and their hard work paid off by their yard being recognized as the best yard in the city three months in a row in 1985. It was the pride of Jay Sr and every visitor to their home was greeted by the plaque, placed prominently in the entryway, much to Amanda’s chagrin. At the age of 12 Jay Jr began middle school. His first day was frightening! It seemed all the other boys were bigger than him and some of them even had the beginnings of a mustache. Needless to say, Jay was a little intimidated and nighttime would find him examining his face closely in the mirror to see any sign of a whisker. It wasn’t long before Jay began to notice the girls. His hormones had began to kick in and suddenly these strange creatures that once got on his nerves began to, almost magically, attract his attention. He tried to talk to them but for some reason couldn’t find any words. It was as if he was trying to speak a language he didn’t know and would simply spend his days dreaming of having a girlfriend. Jay Jr still had his love of baseball and when he tried out for the 7’th grade team he was one of the first ones selected! He was assigned to play shortstop and was a natural at it. Soon the girls began to notice his abilities and his days of hoping for a girlfriend were over. They would bat their eyes at him and he would catch them staring at him in class, he was, to the girls anyway, quite a catch. Throughout junior high Jay would excel in baseball winning MVP both years, but high school was coming. High school brought many changes to the Randolph household. Athletics, dances, dates and other activities began to occupy Jay’s time more and more and like many parents they began to feel the financial strain of having a teenager more and more each day. As Jay Sr worked more and more hours, Jay Jr spent time doing what he did best, baseball. Soon he had tried out for and made the varsity team! Everyone was so excited for him! To make the team as a freshman almost guaranteed a scholarship to just about any tier 1 university and with it the opportunity to go pro! As his high school years passed by life continued to get better as his education increased so did his personality. Everyone was Jay’s friend. At lunch he could and would sit with anyone. Jay was an all American guy. In his senior year Jay met the girl he knew would be the love of his life. They laughed together, sat together at lunch, her parents loved Jay and his parents loved her. Her blonde hair and blue eyes had made Rebecca the desire of every high school boy and the envy of every girl. After graduation they both began attending college together at the same university and Jay knew she was the one, the only one for him. Early spring in their junior year, after a baseball game Jay took her to a very nice restaurant and there, in front of everyone, Jay proposed. Rebecca immediately said yes. On the way home that evening Jay turned to tell her how excited he was that she was going to be his bride. When he did he ran a red light and was hit by a truck and killed. Jay died and went into eternity lost and on his way to Hell because in all of the good life Jay lived no one ever took the time to tell Jay about Jesus.
Is there a Jay in your neighborhood?
Pastor Jared Rogers 