LAKE WACCAMAW, N.C. – The community of Lake Waccamaw and the Jacobs family are grieving the sudden and tragic loss of Gary Landyn Jacobs, 17, who died Thursday morning in a car crash.
Authorities report that Jacobs was driving to work around 4 a.m. when his vehicle collided with a tree. Emergency responders provided medical care at the scene, but tragically, Jacobs succumbed to his injuries.
Family members remember Landyn as a bright, determined young man who loved the work he did. Josh Simmons, Jacobs’ uncle, said Landyn was heading to work at the family’s logging business, a place he loved being in. “Without a shadow of a doubt, anybody who knows Landyn knew he was going to be running a crew in the logging woods with his brother and daddy,” Simmons said.
Jacobs was not only focused on his work but also on his future. His family shared that he had been saving money to return to school for his senior year and had dreams of finishing his last baseball season. He had made a lasting impression on the field as well. “He was dynamic, he was a go-getter and a clown on the baseball field that made everybody laugh. He was a gem at second base. Just recently, he won the MVP of our eastern tournament,” Simmons said.
Beyond work and sports, Landyn enjoyed spending time with friends and family in the outdoors. He loved riding four-wheelers, even going on adventures where they would equip their vehicles with snorkels and ride through ponds. These hobbies reflected his adventurous spirit and his joy in making memories with those he loved.
The loss of Landyn has been devastating for his family, who are leaning on each other and their community for support during this difficult time. “We are all about family, and if one of us hurts, then all of us hurt. We got each other back, and we are going to be there for each other, his momma and daddy and aunt,” Simmons said.
To honor his memory, the community will hold a candlelight vigil Saturday night, giving friends, family, and neighbors an opportunity to pay tribute to a young life full of promise and joy that was cut far too short.
The family asks for privacy as they navigate this heartbreaking loss and encourages those who knew Landyn to remember him for his energy, humor, and dedication to family, friends, and his passions.
If you want, I can also draft a shorter, obituary-style version that highlights Landyn’s life, achievements, and passions in a more formal memorial format for publication. Do you want me to do that?
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