Mourners celebrate life of Asher Sullivan after 10-year-old boy dies from storm injuries

Mourners gathered Friday night to celebrate the life of Asher Sullivan , a 10-year-boy who died from May storm injuries.

Asher's death on May 18 came 10 days after he was sucked into a storm drain May 8 . The son of Rutherford County Schools Director James "Jimmy" Sullivan , Asher brought many people together in prayer, while his family kept vigil for him at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville .

Asher's family held a private funeral before planning Friday's public celebration of life. Nearly 300 people, children and adults, arrived to grieve with his family at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. Another 400 people watched the livestreamed event, said James Evans, spokesman for the county school district.

Some mourners donated stuffed animals to share with children being treated at Vanderbilt. Others spent time embracing Asher's father, mother, Kaycee Sullivan, and brother Declan.

The story of Asher touched many in the community and "across the entire world," including Spain and Greece, Jimmy Sullivan told the worshipers.

What happened brought people closer together and "closer to God," the father said.

Sullivan, the schools director for 52,000 students and 7,000 employees, mentioned the joy he experienced from his family and "how Asher danced through life."

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'Oh, that smile'

Those attending the service watched a video of Asher walking on a glacier on one of the many family trips, hitting a triple in a youth baseball game, catching a touchdown pass, petting animals, and having "wild" and "raw" fun with his brother, mother and father.

The worshippers also heard Asher's fourth-grade teacher Amber Peneguy talk about the "sweet, mischievous, silly" boy who had a large group of friends yet "he never excluded anyone."

"Oh, that smile," Peneguy said.

The teacher said she's been struggling with Asher's death. But she remembers words he wrote about himself for the class: "I'm always happy."

Peneguy urged the mourners to choose to be "happy for Asher."

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Asher loved sunflowers

Three screens behind the Worship Center stage showed Asher in the middle between images of sunflowers, a tall plant the boy loved. His mother wore a dress with sunflowers patterns.

Sullivan family friend Jessica Hood spoke about teaming with Oakland High School softball coach Charlotte Peay to come up with a way to show support for Asher. A volunteer Fellowship of Christian Athletes coach for the team, Hood used her skills as the owner of JM Embroidery in the Rockvale community southwest of Murfreesboro.

Hood worked on a helmet sticker with an "A" for Asher in the shape of a Vanderbilt logo, the boy's favorite baseball team. A mother of three daughters, Hood gave out nearly 7,000 donated stickers to honor requests from many teams in Middle Tennessee, as well as other locations, including in North Carolina and Virginia, Hood said.

"The sticker also represents hope," Hood told the worshippers.

Support for Asher's family: Helmet stickers for Tennessee storm-injured Asher Sullivan 'show love towards the family'

'Our sweet Asher'

The worshippers also witnessed a large group of childhood friends of Asher climb to the stage. His brother was among them and told those gathered that his favorite memory of Asher was that time they were in Hawaii and rock jumping down to the Pacific Ocean.

The brothers' mother also spoke about "our sweet Asher" with his "infectious smile" and laughter and joy and kindness.

Kaycee Sullivan mentioned how Asher's organ donations will help four other families. Asher will "always be loved, always be missed and always be remembered," she said.

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Worshippers also heard a eulogy from Sullivan family friend, Reverend Glenn Forsee. He recalled his granddaughter Elizabeth's close friendship with Asher.

The preacher encouraged the mourners to stay connected to each other.

"Don't be afraid to tell them you love them," Forsee said and urged the worshippers to seek "God's peace."

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'Keep his memory alive'

Asher's father spoke last after changing from wearing a jacket and slacks at the start of the ceremony.

Jimmy Sullivan returned to the stage sporting a T-shirt and shorts as if he was on one of those family trips, exploring a national park with his wife and sons.

The father told the mourners that Asher would tell them to keep going.

"We know it's a wonderful world," Sullivan told the worshippers. "Keep his memory alive."

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Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Mourners celebrate life of Asher Sullivan after 10-year-old boy dies from storm injuries