Port St. Joe community comes together after tragic loss of star athlete

GULF COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – The Port St. Joe’s community is beginning the healing process after the death of a star football player, Chance Gainer.

The eighteen-year-old wide receiver and defensive back collapsed on the field during Friday night’s game in Liberty County and died shortly after at the hospital.

Chance Gainer left a legacy at Port St. Joe both on and off the field. He had become the sharks’ breakout star, but more people remember him for his personality.

“Well. Everyone knew chance. And he had that kind of personality that just resonated with other kids, especially a lot of the younger ones. And then even his own peer group,” Port St. Joe Principal Sissy Godwin said.

As students returned to campus Monday, the school prioritized mental health, providing grief counselors to help students and staff throughout the week.

In this time of grief, the community is also leaning on each other.

“I have no idea what they’re going through. I know what I’m going through. I know, you know, talking to my other coaches, a lot of coaches from around the state have reached out to me and I’m very appreciative of them, you know, and at the end of the day, I think as a coach, as a coaching staff, we need these kids as much as people think they need us,” Port St. Joe head football coach Tanner Jones said.

All Gulf District schools will be closed on Tuesday as Port St. Joe will host football teams from the area to show their support for Chance’s teammates and family.

And the community is showing up in more ways than one. A GoFundMe for the Gainer family has raised over sixty-four-thousand dollars as of Monday afternoon.

But coach Jones said Chance’s family are the ones stepping up.

“Miss Gal and JJ are some of the strongest human beings I know. They came in and on Saturday Miss Gale talked to the majority of our football players in this locker room and it just amazed me I mean strength she has and JJ and they were both here and looked at our kids and me and just very very thankful for them in this time,” Jones said.

Port St. Joe High School will have a soft start Wednesday and continue supporting students in the celebration of life this weekend.

A community-wide celebration of life for Chance will be held in the Port St. Joe High School gymnasium this Saturday.

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