JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One section at Saturday's Jumbo Shrimp game was packed more than most.
Section 117 was dedicated to 'angel parents' – parents who have lost a child.
“She would have been a junior in high school," said Tristyn Bailey's mother Stacy Bailey. "I’m sure she would’ve been front and center on the cheer team and living her best life.”
Tristyn's parents Forrest and Stacy would’ve been helping their daughter with college applications and getting her driver’s license right about now.
But they’ll never have that chance – after she was killed by a classmate three years ago.
“It never gets easier, but you hope that as our family has gone through it, that we’ll be able to help other families endure the pain that it causes," said Bailey.
The Baileys helped organize an Angel Parents Night at the Jumbo Shrimp, to show other parents who’ve lost a child they have people they can lean on.
“I love to share the story of Isabella’s life," said Trisha Garcia, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver. "I don’t like to share the story of how she was taken, but if our story can help another family get through this, we’re proof that you can still wake up every day.”
Some parents at the game, like the Garcias, lost their children to drunk drivers, others to violence and others to medical emergencies.
Some are still waiting for closure in their child’s death, like Latasha Hobbs, who’s waited more than seven years for an arrest in her son’s death.
“I’m relieved that there’s been accountability for other families," said Hobbs. "I’m sure they’re relieved knowing that the perpetrator responsible for the murder of their child or loved one can no longer hurt another person’s child. Every day, that’s what I fight for for my son.”
The Angel Parent Game could just be the first event of many like it, as the Baileys sat down with Sheriff TK Waters this week to talk about expanding the Tristyn Bailey Foundation from St. Johns County into Duval County.
“We’re really excited about some of the things we’re going to be able to partner with with them to give back to this community that has given so much," said Forrest Bailey.
Part of the proceeds from the game went to the Tristyn Bailey Foundation, which supports scholarships, victim advocacy and self defense classes.