TCCHS graduate killed in crash remembered for ‘contagious smile’ and kindness
17-year-old Deontavis Cooper was a standout football player at Thomas County Central and signed with Tulane University back in December
THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) – The friends and family of 17-year-old Deontavis Cooper are sharing heartfelt memories after he was killed in a crash on the same night he graduated from Thomas County Central High School.
“It definitely affected everyone,” Cooper’s cousin Demario Wyche said.
Cooper’s family called him Mario. Wyche describes him as a little brother and said he had the brightest spirit.
“If you’re having a bad day, when you see him smile, it’s no way you could not catch that contagious smile,” Wyche said. “We couldn’t be mad at Mario. If you’re mad at him, within those two or three minutes, you can’t be mad at him anymore because he’s going to make you laugh.”
Cooper was a standout football player at Thomas County Central. He signed with Tulane University back in December, and he was set to begin that journey this week.
“Tulane offered something that he felt like was great for him - an opportunity, different people, a new environment,” Wyche said.
The crash happened Saturday night on Thomasville Road in Leon County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Two other 18-year-olds were also in the car. Officials say they both remain in critical condition.
Cooper, known to teammates as Big Coop, left a lasting impact on the Yellow Jacket family.
“Big Coop will brighten your day up every time without even trying,” teammate and 2026 graduate Triston Flounoy said. “We can come in the locker room, sad or something, and you look over to Big Coop, you can’t be sad anymore. He’s smiling and giggling. He brings the whole team morale up.”
Flounoy said he still hasn’t fully processed Cooper’s passing.
“It feels unbelievable,” he said. “I try to wake up and call Big Coop, and I can’t because he’s not here anymore. It’s like I lost another part of myself.”
A GoFundMe was set up in light of Cooper’s sudden passing, and you can support the family by clicking here.
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