Tuesday's games honored life of Allie Henderson

Bree Alexander and Madison Brown walked out toward the pitcher's mound on Tuesday night at the Ballpark in Jackson to throw out the honorary first pitch before Chester County and Lexington took the field in a District 14-AA.

This wasn't just a game about who would be the No. 2 seed in the District 14-AA tournament.

Tuesday night was a time to honor the life of Lexington student Allie Henderson, who died in a car accident on March 21. Alexander and Brown were best friends with Henderson.

"Allie was an incredible friend, who was always there for me," Alexander said. "No matter what I was going through, she was always the one I went to talk to."

The soccer team was scheduled to play in the Best of the West tournament at University School of Jackson on Wednesday night, but before heading to the game, the Tigers stopped at the softball and baseball games to remember Henderson.

Isaiah Henry, a friend of Henderson, is on the soccer team.

"Allie was always joyful," Henry said. "She was the type of person that was always making people happy and making them smile."

The money raised from the softball game at Jackson State Community College and the baseball game at the ballpark would go toward the Allie Henderson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

"She would be speechless," Brown said. "She was a selfless person. Everything she did was about helping someone else, so this is about helping someone else."

Fans of both teams were packed around the softball and baseball game, showing the impact that she had on those around her.

"She didn't like to be the center of attention, but she would be amazed by the people that came out to support," Henry said. "She would have loved this."

Henderson lived a life of faith, and that is the impact that she had on those around her.

"She was a Godly woman, and you knew it," Brown said. "You could tell by the way she acted, and the way she carried herself."

Alexander and Brown have known Henderson for most of their life, while Henry met her playing soccer in the seventh grade.

"She was always looking for Christ and talking to people about their faith in Christ," Henry said.

When everybody heard of the accident, the initial reaction was shock.

"I was more than shocked when I first heard the news," Henry said. "I was at work about to get my check and a friend called me."

"My first reaction was disbelief," Alexander said. "After thinking about it, I had peace in my heart because I knew she was with God. That is what helped me throughout."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.