Riding for Jerome

Perhaps you have heard, I know I have, that as long as you are remembered you never really die.

Most of us have also heard that in order to have friends you have to be a friend.

20 year old Jerome Morgan scores on both counts here.

Morgan's passion was motorcycle riding and ironically, tragically, it is what led to his death, Sunday July 18, on a stretch of highway on the way to Blood Mountain in scenic Lumpkin County near Turner's Corner.

For some reason, possibly a gear box failure, the rear tire locked up. Morgan's cycle left the pavement and went down an embankment,according to the Georgia State patrol.

Less than a week later it was clear that his friends were not going to let his memory fade.

Saturday, July 24, they gathered at a Dawsonville Highway parking lot in Gainesville of the old Bamboo Garden Restaurant.

They were to meet at 10:00 a.m. and less than an hour later the lot was full of cars, trucks and motorcycles - belonging to friends he knew from two Gainesville area car clubs.

Focused Intentions president Dave Luthi recalled that Morgan had a way of making friends.

"He was willing to help anyone at any given time," Luthi said. "In order to have good friends, You've got to be a good friend and Jerome was one of the best."

President of Eternal Creations Daniel "Fats" Blake remembered Morgan more as a brother than just a friend.

"I've known Jerome since he was 16. He always had a smile on his face,always happy, outgoing," Blake recalled.

Gary Morgan, Jerome's father, arrived with an ornamental metal cross.

"I'm going to take my last ride with my son up to the point where Jesus took him home," Morgan said.

By 11:00 a.m. the group was ready to leave the parking lot in a memorial ride to the accident site, the place to be marked by the cross.

Gary Morgan and Dave Luthi led the motorcade on their cycles and Luthi wore Jerome's helmet and jacket - friends and loved ones honoring a friend and a loved one.

If you are a friend, you will have friends and when the time comes, they will remember you, and you will never really die.

Jerry Gunn is a general assignment reporter for WDUN NEWS TALK 550, AM 1240 WGGA, and MAJIC 1029 and www.accessnorthga.com.