Walk Like MADD - Baton Rouge - 5.7.2011

Team "Standing Up For Steven" participated in the Walk Like Madd 5K on 5/7. It is an annual event by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and is held at various locations across the country. Steven's team raised $955.00 to support MADD and its efforts.

Steven Daniel Whiddon "Always A Rebel" Memorial Scholarship

The Whiddon family has established a scholarship in Steven's memory that will be awarded each year to a senior CPS athlete. It is a $1000 scholarship that is renewed annually for up to four years. The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior athlete from CPS each year.The first recipient of this award is Daniel Holloway - below is the photo that ran in the Central City News congratulating him on his achievement.

The memorial plaque, which hangs at CPS, will have each recipient's name added to it each year.

Steven's Jersey Display at CPS

Steven's retired jersey is hanging on display at Central Private School. Alongside it are a handmade ribbon and photo card that was distributed at the ceremony. To the right of the jersey is the Steven Daniel Whiddon "Always A Rebel" Memorial Scholarship Plaque.

The photo card has a quote by Steven that was used in his senior yearbook, talking about the CPS Rebel Football team:

"We didn't have any stars. People didn't know us by our names but for the six letter word on our jerseys. Under the lights, we left cleat prints that can't be filled. We packed the little field back in the woods full of fans and Rebel spirit. Behind 6 linemen the team was lead to a 5AA district title. Hot practices and big victories are nothing more than memories now, but the chills and butterflies will live on in us until we die."

Steven's Bench and Markers

Steven's bench marking his place at Resthaven in Baton Rouge.

The front has his names, dates, and "Forever Nineteen":

The back reads "2009 Graduate Central Private School #74 - Placed in loving memory of our only son with gracious help from his family, friends and teammates - His smile and laughter will forever live in the hearts of those he called his friends"

Steven's marker at the accident site in Pierre Part, created by Jared Collier.

Steven's original accident site marker, made by Emily Cole, was moved to his favorite deer stand in Mississippi.

Tree Planting & Plaque Dedication

A tree was planted in Steven's memory in front of the football practice field at Central Private School. Members of the graduating class of 2009 assisted in planting the tree and flowers around the memorial plaque.

Driving Safe In Central

Haleigh Alexander, from Central, started a group titled "Driving Safe In Central" to promote safe driving habits by teens and adults alike. Haleigh started the group after seeing so many of her friends seriously affected by preventable traffic accidents. The group focuses on things such as not texting while driving, wearing seat belts, and avoiding driving while intoxicated or under the influence. The shirts feature the "Driving Safe In Central" logo along with the names of those who died in accidents from the Central area.


Haleigh designed and sold t-shirts printed by Cross Threads in Central. The money from the sale was generously donated to the Whiddon family to purchase a granite bench to mark Steven's gravesite. Pictured below are Ronnie Whiddon (father), Diane Whiddon (stepmother), Jodie Whiddon (mother), Emily Cole (girlfriend), and Haleigh Alexander.

Retiring of Steven's Jersey - 8.20.2010

Steven was the starting center for the Central Private Rebels football team. His jersey, #74, was retired August 20, 2010. His teammates, seniors from the 2008-2009 football season, walked his jersey out onto the field for the last time.

Steven's Obituary

"Say not in grief 'he is no more' but live in thankfulness that he was." Steven Daniel Whiddon passed away suddenly and unexpectedly as a passenger in an auto accident Sunday, June 27, 2010, in Pierre Part.

A native of Central, he was 19, born Jan. 15, 1991. He was a 2009 graduate of Central Private School. He was the starting center, No. 74, for the CPS Rebels varsity football team and had returned to CPS to volunteer his time to the athletic program after graduation. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed freshwater fishing and hunting at his family's camp in Woodville, Miss. His smile and laughter will forever live on in the hearts of those he called his friends. He was a stranger to no one and touched many lives in his short 19 years.

He is survived by his mother, Jodie Morales Whiddon; father, Ronnie Whiddon and his wife, Diane; grandparents, Claude and Leatrice Whiddon; loving girlfriend of many years, Emily Cole; aunts, Susan Morales, Connie Graham, Sheila Lambert, Carolyn Cappo and husband Uncle Ricky, Lynn Creech, Denise Vernor and husband Kevin, and Beverly Chauvin and husband Kenny; uncle, Terry Whiddon and wife Charlene; two sisters, Amanda Duncan Meyer and Kelly Duncan; brother-in-law, Jeff Meyer; two nieces, Riley Brynn Duncan and Sadie June Meyer; nephew, Jeffry Ryan Meyer; cousins, Brandi Rinaudo and husband Chris, Nathan Whiddon and wife Erica, Rebecca Whiddon, Allison Whiddon, Jeffrey Mitchell and wife Jackie, Kelly Stahls and husband Paul, Shawn, Stefanie and Shelbie Lambert, Natalie Graham, Devin Vernor and Aaron Vernor, Brenley Claire Rinaudo, Gracen Rinaudo, Hadley Rinaudo, Grant Whiddon and Emma Grace Whiddon; dear friends, Terry Blackwell, Don Panepinto and the Deadwood Hunting Club. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lynwood and Elaine Morales; aunt, Lynn Morales Mitchell; and cousin, Garrett Whiddon.

Pallbearers will be Jared Collier, Blake Panepinto, Tad Pizzolato, Tony Vince, Chase Metz, Travis Rose, Seth Partin and Justin O'Quinn. Honorary pallbearers are Adam Lemoine, Taylor Young, Gannon Achord, Kameron Tate, Andy Kinchen, Dillon Smiley, Jacob Fryoux, Thomas Bourgeois, T.J. Wilkinson, John Starns, Taylor Hancock, Rhett Digirolamo and Mitch Crawford. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., Wednesday, June 30, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation at the funeral home chapel Thursday, July 1, from 10 a.m. until service at noon. Interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory.