Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Aucilla Christian Academy mourns loss of senior
There is an old adage that states, “There is nothing so tragic to one who is old as the death of one who is young. This alone proves life is a good thing.” The students and faculty at Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) were faced with that tragic lesson recently when they learned of the passing of ACA senior Dakota Hagan.
The school released a press release that reads: “It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the death of our beloved senior, Dakota Hagan, who died of natural causes this weekend. Please pray for his family, our students and staff as we grieve the loss of one we love so much. We are confident that Dakota had a saving relationship with Jesus Christ; he had a heart of thanksgiving, peace and joy because he knew Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Dakota was a Warrior to the core as he participated in football and baseball and faithfully supported all of our other athletic teams. The school community is grieving this tremendous loss, but are grateful that we were a part of his life. His memory will be honored and celebrated in many ways in the days and months ahead.”
Hagan was a well-liked student by faculty and fellow students alike. He was an athlete who played football, but it was baseball with which he made his biggest mark. During his junior season, Hagan had a batting average of .308, with 16 hits and 13 runs batted in (RBIs). Watching Hagan play, it was clear that he truly loved the game of baseball. “I had the extreme pleasure of coaching Dakota when he played baseball at Chaires Little League,” said Michael Glantz. “I have run through my memories of my brief time spent with Dakota. They are all happy and funny. Win or lose, he was okay. You could tell because he had a mega-watt smile. The only time he wasn't smiling was when he was on base or behind the plate. What else could any coach want, other than having him on the team one more time?” He was also active in his church youth group at Central Baptist Church, in Aucilla. He also attended Wacissa Christian Church.
He is the son of Morgan Jeffery and Pamela Ann Harris.
A video is posted on the school's Facebook page showing Hagan giving his testimony during a “Fields of Faith” event. He said one of his favorite scripture passages was Proverbs 3:5,6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
There will be a graveside visitation at Oakfield Cemetery, in Monticello, on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. Final arrangements for the family are being handled by Beggs Funeral Home, in Monticello.
If Dakota could speak to us now, he would probably remind us all that, especially in times such as this, to “trust in the Lord, and not our own understanding.”
