Students, faculty, administrators and staff of Bradwell Institute formed a prayer circle that encompassed most of Olvey Field Monday evening as they said their last farewell to Lady Tiger soccer coach Franklin Scott Akin.

Akin, 53, unexpectedly passed away Friday evening.

Student athletes honored Akin saying he was a man of God who committed all his time to his family and the Tiger student body.

BI Assistant Principal Anthony Johnson said he was a man who was filled with humility and love. 

Former Lady Tiger soccer player Elizabeth Hedrick spoke fondly of the man she called her mentor.

“I played for coach Akin during my freshman and sophomore years,” she said. “We made many awesome memories on this soccer field as a team and as a family. His life had a lasting impact on everyone that he met. I will always remember coach Akin for being the biggest motivator in my life on and off the field. Coach Akin was an incredible person, role model and an example for others to follow. His compassion for others was obvious…I will always remember coach Akin as a bright spot in my hardest days at Bradwell.”

Current Lady Tiger soccer player Alexus Chavis added that coach Akin believed in all his athletes and always offered encouragement.

“He taught me to never give up,” she said. “Most of all he will be remembered as a kind soul that cared so much about people and he went the extra mile to show it. Coach left a mark at Bradwell and I hope each of us will take the values he taught us into our futures.”

BI Principal Alvin Williams said he’s been official on the job for two weeks but in that short period of time Akin made a lasting impression.

“During this short time I’ve met many people,” he said. “One of those people is Coach Akin. He was always pleasant, fun to be around and just an all-around good spirit.”

Afterwards boys’ soccer coach Tommy Oglesby asked everyone sitting in the stadium to come down to the field. Folks stood side-by-side interlocking hands forming an expansive circle. Everyone reciting the Lord’s Prayer and then gathered around widow Hannah Akin and the rest of his family that had flown in from across the U.S.