He was known to many of his friends and family simply as AB.
That is short for Areon Butler, the 19-year-old who died this past Sunday morning during a mass shooting in Indianola.
Areon was a recent graduate of Gentry High School, and by all accounts, he was preparing to start his freshman year of college in the fall.
His friends and family say that Areon always had a smile on his face, and he was always trying to make other people smile and laugh along with him.
“Areon was truly the heart and soul of our class,” Gentry Class of 2024 President Charlize Modley told The Enterprise-Tocsin. “He had an infectious energy that could light up any room, and the way he could turn any bad day into an amazing one. Always ready with a joke or a smile, he made everyone feel included and valued.”
Last Saturday, Areon went to work at his job at Popeyes. After clocking out there, he eventually ended up in Indianola’s entertainment district, doing what he loved most, according to his cousin, Jaquavious Hawkins, and that was having a good time.
“He was really like a brother,” Hawkins told The E-T after a Wednesday candlelight vigil that was held at Mount Beulah M.B. Church on Church Street. “We were real close. He was full of life. He always had a good vibe. He was not a street guy at all.”
Sunflower County Consolidated School District Superintendent Dr. Miskia Davis said that Areon’s death –- along with the severe injuries to at least one other classmate last weekend -- has shaken the district, the city and the county.
“When a child enters the Sunflower County Consolidated School District, no matter how long they remain in the district, they are forever connected,” Davis said. “They become part of us through the relationships they form with their peers, teachers, leaders and other staff. Quite simply put, they become family and a part of who we are…We mourn with the family of this young man, as well as the families of the others who lost their lives.”
Areon Butler greeted by SCCSD Superintendent Dr. Miskia Davis during Gentry's graduation ceremony in May. Photo by Bryan Davis/Emmerich Newspapers/Copyright 2024
Another of Areon’s closest relatives and friends, Donovan Clark, said that there was much more to Butler than his ability to make people laugh.
"I'm one of Areon Butler's closest partners,” Clark told The E-T. “He was a genuine person, and most importantly, he treated my child like it was his very own. Anytime he was around it was nothing but laughter and foolishness between us too. I love him dearly and I am going to miss him very much."
Class President Modley echoed those words about his innate kindness.
“His kindness and enthusiasm for life were unmatched, and he had a way of spreading joy wherever he went,” she said. “Areon's memory will forever be a source of inspiration and warmth for all of us. AB, you are forever living with us, We love you."
Gentry High School/Indianola Career and Technical Education Counselor Lora Dean Owens said that she will never forget the visits she would have with Areon while he was a student at the high school.
“I love all of my students equally. However, there are some that leave a lasting impression and Areon Butler was definitely one of those students,” she said. “He was high-spirited, respectful and kept a smile on his face. He would often visit my office and always kept me laughing. He enjoyed being at Gentry with his classmates and other peers. I charge the Class of 2024 to remain positive, continue to strive for greatness, and to always, always keep God at the center of their lives. My condolences are extended to the family of Areon Butler and all other victims that were involved.”
The Class of 2024 honored their friend in a social media post hours after his passing.
“To know Areon was to love him; he was so full of life and joy! Everywhere he went, he brought laughs and good times,” the post said, in part. “Areon could make any bad day into a happy one. He was the classmate that everyone loved. Areon always made us laugh with those dance moves of his! He always watched over and hung out with the girls in our class.
As we come together to mourn this loss and support one another during this difficult time, let us remember the impact he had on each of us and the lasting impression he left behind. May his soul rest in peace, and may we find solace in the memories we shared with him.”
