Tylee Hezekiah “Ty” CRAFT^{[1, 2, 3]}

2001 - 2024  (23 years)

• Name	Tylee Hezekiah “Ty” CRAFT
  Birth	1 Oct 2001	Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
  Gender	Male
  Education	He graduated early in December 2019 from Sumter High School with a 4.46 GPA.  [3]
  Education	He graduated early in December 2019 from Sumter High School with a 4.46 GPA.  [3]
  HIST	Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft passes after lengthy cancer battle Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft passed away on Saturday after battling cancer for more than two years. PHOTO PROVIDED Posted Saturday, October 12, 2024 5:04 pm STAFF REPORT Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft, who inspired so many during his courageous battle with cancer, passed away on Saturday, just 11 days after his 23rd birthday. The University of North Carolina, where Craft played for two seasons prior to his cancer diagnosis in March of 2022, announced the loss shortly after their matchup with Georgia Tech. “This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years,” head coach Mack Brown said after the game. “The doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve. And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn’t miss a meeting, he didn’t miss practice, he coached these other incredible young people.” "It is with love and fond memories that we announce Tylee Craft has begun his journey on the other side," the post from the North Carolina football progam read. "Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for. He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity. "On behalf of his family and our program, we sincerely thank everyone who supported Tylee during his battle with cancer. It means more than you know. "With love and affection, #TyleeStrongForever" The game was Cancer Awareness Day at the stadium, and the Tar Heels recognized Craft and his family during the game.  Wide receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft's jersey with his No. 13 and name in the matchup against Georgia Tech. Brown said he did not learn of Craft’s passing until after the game, but could tell from a long hug with his mother, September Craft, during the ceremony that something had already happened, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. “I think the family feels the love, and they’ll continue to feel the love,” Brown said. “What we’ve got to do is be strong, and pray for strength for us as leaders, to help these guys on the field and off the field. … So more than ever before I have got to step up and be stronger for them and make sure that I can help them manage the stuff and move forward in their lives.” Craft was a standout receiver at Sumter High, earning a trip to the Shine Bowl of the Carolinas as a senior before heading up to Chapel Hill to play for the Tar Heels. He was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer on March 14, 2022, but inspired the world with his positivity despite his situation. He received the Disney Spirit Award in December of 2022. “I’ve learned to keep fighting, to never give up, to keep swinging, that there’s always someone in your corner,” Craft said over video call on the ESPN broadcast. “If they’re not, just believe that I am, as well. That’s the main thing is keep swinging and keep fighting. Have fun and be positive in everything that I do.” The cancer spread to his brain and spine in 2023, but Tylee kept fighting. He remained a student at UNC and graduated this spring. He was in the process of obtaining his graduate degree with the goal of becoming an NFL scout before he passed. He was awarded his Master's this week by the university. Craft formally medically retired from football in July of 2024. Tylee Craft remembered for unforgettable mark he left on Sumter, Chapel Hill Tylee Craft was an electric player on the field, but he was an even more magnetic person away from the gridiron. Even after his cancer diagnosis, he gave back to his two homes, Sumter and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and always put on a brave face as he fought the most challenging battle of his life for two-and-a-half years. ADAM FLASH / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Saturday, October 19, 2024 6:00 am I'm sure he had his 'Why me' moments. I know there were times that were dark, but none of us ever saw that, and he didn't want anyone to see that. He wanted to be the picture of a fighter, a competitor that was going to be positive, and he was going to do his best to beat this and help other people through this. He visited kids that were sick and shared his story. He brought in a lot of awareness to that cancer because it's so rare. It became his platform.” MANDY BLANKENSHIP, TYLEE CRAFT'S TEACHER AND FRIEND By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com When Tylee Craft walked into the room, you felt his presence. It's not because the former Sumter High wide receiver was boastful. He was far from that. But he had a type of charisma that few people have. Even as he battled Stage 4 lung cancer for two-and-a-half years, his warm smile somehow left the impression that everything was right in the world, despite the fact that his body was destroying itself from within. When Tylee passed away on Saturday, Oct. 12, the world got a little dimmer. "In today's world, we tend to embellish things. Everything is the greatest that's ever been," Sumter High head coach Mark Barnes said. "But he was different." BEFORE STARDOM Tylee was born at Tuomey Hospital to September Craft on Oct. 1, 2001. He had a childhood that is familiar to so many families in Sumter. Tylee was raised by a single mother and always tried to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Taykell McCray, who was just 22 months his senior. "Me being his older brother, he was always trying to outdo me," Taykell said. "Around my grandfather's neighborhood, there were a lot of kids around our age, so we all just really had big games of football and basketball and ran around the neighborhood playing hide and seek or cops and robbers." Tylee was a natural athlete, playing football, basketball and running track at Sumter High. When September first started him in flag football, he was the only kid who kept up with their coach during warmups. Foreshadowing the selfless person he would grow into, he played out of position when he first started football. The team needed a quarterback, so he volunteered. While many kids dream of being the star quarterback, the center of attention, Tylee wanted to be the one making highlights on the receiving end of passes. "He said all he does is throw the ball and everyone else has fun by running and tackling," September remembered. When Tylee was playing Parks and Recreation football, he met a friend for life in O'Donnell Fortune. The two were the perfect pair. As they got to Sumter High, Tylee played wide receiver, while Fortune was his opposite at defensive back. "Tylee was like my brother, man," Fortune said. When that dynamic duo first walked onto the field at Sumter High, Barnes knew he had something special coming his way. "They looked different than everybody else, and I said, 'Guys, you have to study and get in the weight room because you have a future in this game,'" Barnes said. Tylee and Fortune continued to be perfect mirrors as they decided on their next steps in life. Tylee committed to play for North Carolina, while Fortune suited up for the Gamecocks. They both earned a trip to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas as seniors and spent their weekend at the annual bowl game formally signing their letters of intent side by side. "We just did everything together," Fortune said simply. "Tylee, for me, was always a role model. He was always inspiring." PASSIONATE FOR PEOPLE Mandy Blankenship first met Tylee when he was a freshman in her English II class. She could tell he was a unique guy right away. While Tylee was always quiet, she noticed that he sat right in the middle of the room. He just loved being in the middle of the action, even if he didn't always have much to say. "He loved people, and he loved seeing people as their authentic selves," Blankenship said. People gravitated to Tylee because of that passion he had for everyone in his life. It didn't matter if you were a childhood best friend or the cafeteria worker serving his lunch, Tylee wanted to connect with people. "There was a kid in his class that was always rambunctious," Blankenship recalled. "I said to him one day, 'Tylee, you've got to talk to your buddy because he's about to drive me insane.' And he just goes, 'Mrs. Blankenship, it's all right. He's just being him.' And I was like, we've got to have order, but he is. He didn't mean any harm. "That's Tylee. He just accepted everyone openly as who they are. Our community needs a lot of that. The things that divide people didn't matter to him. That's the beauty of it." Sumter High Principal Anamaria Sandor was thankful that every student who got to know Tylee was able to find a role model. "Tylee embodied Gamecock greatness," she said. "He excelled at everything he did, and he was very loved. Everybody loved Tylee. He was humble. He was not outspoken, but he was always the first one to do something when asked. And he was a role model in the football team and the school. When you wanted something done, you could go ask Tylee." For a while, Barnes thought Tylee might be a bit too nice. While he appreciated Tylee's ability to lead by example, he wanted to see the edge that so many star players have. Before Tylee's senior year, he saw a switch flip. "I can remember we were at 7-on-7 over at Camden and Tylee is abusing a guy, and Tylee kinda taps him on the helmet and says, 'It'll be OK,'" Barnes said. "I'm laughing, but I can't laugh. I have to get on to him and say, 'Tylee, don't do that junk, now.' When I'm walking back, I'm saying, 'Finally!' He's always been that great player, but now he has that edge about him and he's become a leader for us because he's become a more outspoken, dominant player." As a senior, Tylee proved why he was committed to North Carolina. He caught 38 passes for 593 yards and six touchdowns, adding an 85-yard kick return for a score. But off the field, he was still the sweet kid Blankenship loved. "His mom sent me a picture of his dorm room, and there was a bulletin board with a picture of the two of us," Blankenship said. "Somebody snapped a picture of the two of us walking off the field together, and he has his arm around me on my shoulder, and I'm patting him on the back and we're just smiling, walking away. He wanted that printed out and on his bulletin board in his freshman dorm. It was just awesome. "Every Mother's Day I would get a text from him saying happy Mother's Day and that he loves me, and every Thanksgiving, he'd text me and say he's thankful for me. Just a thoughtful kid. He was a student, but as the years went by, he became a friend. That's how he was with a lot of people. He cultivated friendships, meaningful friendships, with people." MARCH 14, 2022 Tylee was gearing up for his third season in Chapel Hill when his life changed forever. While practicing, he occasionally struggled to catch his breath fully. He felt a little achier than he was used to. In an abundance of caution, he got checked out, but the Craft family had no idea how much their lives would be turned upside down. But when Tylee was diagnosed with a rare form of Stage 4 lung cancer, he didn't bat an eye. "I was the one that bust out crying, and he was on the bed at the hospital asleep," September said. "I grabbed him and was holding him, and he woke up like, 'What's going on?' And I said, 'You've got Stage 4 cancer,' and he's patting me, telling me it's going to be OK. In my mind I'm thinking, 'Oh, I'm about to lose my son.' I'm panicking, and if he was panicking, he did not show it." That mentality was lauded across the nation. Suddenly, Tylee was thrust into stardom in a way he never could've anticipated. He received the Disney Spirit Award because of the way he inspired so many people who were suffering through their own cancer battles. The #TyleeStrong became a flagship saying in both Chapel Hill and Sumter. "I think Tylee's biggest plan in this whole thing is he was going to fight like crazy, and he wasn't going to let anyone know he was hurt. He was going to find a way," Barnes said. "I told somebody that I regret the fact that Tylee never got to show everybody how good a player he was in college, but I reckon the disease and the cancer gave him the opportunity to show everybody what type of person he was. "College athletics is such a big business, and people almost look at them like they're not real people. But because of this disease, he got to show everybody how strong a person he was. It affected people in other ways. They didn't look at him like he was just a jock; he's a great human being." While Tylee always felt at home in Chapel Hill, during his cancer battle, the University of North Carolina rallied behind the Sumter native in such an incredible fashion. Barnes has known UNC head coach Mack Brown and wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway for decades. Once Tylee was diagnosed, he was beyond thankful his former star was a Tar Heel. "When he made the decision to go to North Carolina, I wasn't 100% sure that was the right decision," Barnes admitted. "But when this happened and he got that diagnosis, I knew he was at the right place because of Mack and Lonnie. They were going to go above and beyond to be the right people for him and September in that situation. When I reflect back on that, he couldn't have made a better choice." Throughout his fight, Tylee tried to put on a brave face for all the people in his life. He tried to keep conversations away from his cancer battle. He just flashed his charming smile and turned the conversation in a different direction, and his loved ones were happy to oblige. "I'm sure he had his 'Why me' moments," Blankenship said. "I know there were times that were dark, but none of us ever saw that, and he didn't want anyone to see that. He wanted to be the picture of a fighter, a competitor that was going to be positive, and he was going to do his best to beat this and help other people through this. He visited kids that were sick and shared his story. He brought in a lot of awareness to that cancer because it's so rare. It became his platform." Throughout his entire cancer battle, Tylee stayed committed to his work on and off the field. He constantly tried to work his way back into playing shape, but every time he took a step in the right direction, the cancer would swing back even harder. Despite that, Tylee stayed locked into his course work. "If he's sick and he just had chemo, he would still go to the university and go to class, he would go to practice," September said. "One time, he had chemo and texted his professor, 'Hey, I'm coming,' and took an exam." That grit and determination helped Tylee earn his bachelor's degree this spring. He then began work toward his master's, which he received from the university days before he passed. "He would tell people, 'Just keep swinging.' He got that from Mitch Mason, the chaplain from UNC," September said. "It is what it is; you still have to live life. Tylee was determined that he was going to live his life. He wanted to travel, which he did travel a little bit by going to Spain this year. He went to Denmark this year. He wanted to do skydiving. "His doctor was like, 'Well, why would you want to do that? Who in their right mind wants to jump out of the plane?' But Tylee wanted to do that. He never got a chance to do it, but I just feel like Tylee wasn't sure if he was going to make it or survive, so it's like, 'Let me go ahead and just live my life as long as I can.'" September was glad her son was able to see the world before he passed, even if it stressed her out beyond belief. He still had a few places he never had the chance to visit, including a few cities in Germany, Rome, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. "There were some other places that he wanted to go to that I saw in his phone," September said. "So, I'm gonna try to live that out and go those places." INSPIRATION Tylee touched so many lives during his 23 years on this Earth. While so many kids look up to their older brothers, Taykell was inspired by the man who was born 22 months after him. "I learned a lot from him. He inspired me just as much as he inspired everybody else," Taykell said. "He's my little brother, but I also looked up to him because of the person he was. In my opinion, he was my role model." Despite his ongoing cancer battle, Tylee still took the time to give his time to younger athletes coming through Sumter High. In the summer of 2023, Tylee hosted a camp with former teammate Jordan Gregg that they called "Flight School." He didn't care how he was feeling, he wanted to help mold the next generation on and off the field. "He just wanted the kids here to follow (their) dream. Follow your dream, do what you're supposed to do while you're in school grade-wise, stay out of trouble, and you can get that four-year scholarship, too. If you are serious about wanting to play football or basketball, follow your dreams and work hard towards it," September said. "A lot of these kids get lost to the streets and get caught up in stuff and mess up their careers. He let them know, 'I got cancer, but I'm still truckin'. I may not be on the field, but I'm still standing on the sideline, I'm still there.'" Barnes was incredibly grateful to have a former player like Tylee who cared so much for the community that raised him. "I tell everyone that I'm too old to learn new tricks, but Tylee has taught me a lot of tricks," he said. "He taught me how to prioritize what's important right now, instead of the old coach in us that has to correct everything. When you see Tylee, I just think I better be happy today. "I think everybody that dealt with Tylee, even though we didn't have him for as long as we wanted to have him, we were better off because we did have him in our lives." FIGHTING UNTIL THE END Tylee's health took a sudden turn for the worse, and he was admitted into hospice on Thursday, Oct. 10. On Friday, his family was told Tylee likely wouldn't live through the night. Like he did for the last two-and-a-half years, Tylee kept fighting. "She kept coming back in the room, and her expression was, 'He's still here?' She thought he would've already passed," September said of the medical staff. "She said, 'I think he would go if nobody was in the room because he feels all the love from the family.' We all looked at each other like we're not budging, we're not leaving him. He stayed throughout the night. The next morning, still in the same state, and they kept coming in to check on him." On Saturday, North Carolina was going to honor Tylee with its annual cancer awareness game. After a discussion as a family, September thought it was best that they attend the game in his honor. So, they made the 30-minute drive to the stadium and were recognized at the end of the first quarter. As soon as the ceremony was over, September sped back to her son. "His girlfriend called me, and I was like five minutes away, and she was like, 'You need to hurry up, the nurse said that it's about to happen,'" September said. "By the time I got there and came running down the hall, I heard his aunt cry out, and she said, 'He just took his last breath.' So, I wasn't in the room when it happened." September tried to find solace in missing that final moment with her son, as impossible as that task may sound. "I feel like he wouldn't want to have taken his last breath with me being there," she said. "He was always worried about me; Tylee didn't worry about himself. He wanted to make sure I'm OK. I was telling him those past two nights, whispering in his ear, 'Mommy's gonna be OK. I'm gonna be OK; don't worry about me, I'm gonna be OK.'" While Tylee was gone too soon, he more than left his impact on the world around him. "When he was lying there before he passed, I just told him, 'You fought your fight. I can't be selfish and keep wanting you to keep fighting and fighting, and you're taking the poison of chemo and then the radiation and you're feeling the sickness, not me ... You've done what you're supposed to do,'" she said. "God put everybody on this Earth for a reason. We've all got to figure out what our purpose here is for, and Tylee did that already." Barnes tried to find a similar silver lining in the loss of his former star. "But I remember when Lonnie called me to tell me the day it happened, and I remember I was mad. I was like, 'Why would God do this to a guy that does everything right?' I know, as a religious guy, that you're not supposed to ask that question, but I didn't understand," Barnes said. "I got mad, but I don't think Tylee ever got mad. Selfishly, I didn't understand this, but I think God picked the right one because he has touched so many people with the way he dealt with it, versus the way I probably would've dealt with it. He just has such strong character. I'm sure in his room, when no one was around, that it affected him a different way, but in public, I was just amazed. With September, too. I was amazed with how they handled it. "From our standpoint, it was a bad day, but from Tylee's standpoint, I think he's in a much better place and not suffering anymore. I'm kinda happy for him that he's not suffering anymore. I know that doesn't sound right, but that was my impression of the day." ONE LAST TIME WITH TYLEE The Sumter community got one final day with Tylee when Sumter High opened its football season against Lakewood on Aug. 23. Tylee was right where he belonged, on the sidelines at Sumter High. Fortune was right by his side. While he didn't know it at the time, he was thankful to have one last evening with his friend. "It's love," Fortune said. "I hadn't seen him in person for a minute before then, and when I saw him, it just put a smile on my face, and it put a smile on his face because that's my brother since the sixth grade. Seeing him out there watching everything, knowing what's going on, that took some heart. It was good seeing him and catching up on everything." Ever the perfectionist, Barnes was frustrated with the way his team played in the opening half of the season opener against the Gators. He was fuming a bit when he walked toward the locker room at halftime, but all of that melted away when he saw a familiar smile. "Tylee was standing at the door when I walked in the locker room, and it just kinda stunned me like, 'Gosh, this dude is in here smiling and happy to be here, and he looked like the happiest guy in the joint,'" Barnes said. "It just kind of struck me that, no matter the circumstances, he was going to be a positive guy and fight and smile and have fun and enjoy life to the most degree he could for the situation he was in, whether it was playing here or when he was sick, and I admire that about him." "We saw Tylee as we know Tylee," Sandor said, "enjoying the game and smiling." Barnes got a keepsake he'll cherish forever that night, getting one final photo with his star duo. "The game got away a little bit, and I told them I wanted to get a picture of both of them together," the SHS coach said. "Tylee came up to me and kinda tapped me on the shoulder in the third quarter and said, 'We better get it in at the end of the third because we're going to be leaving.' We stopped and got a picture, and that's one I'll keep and remember." Tylee's memory will last at both Sumter High and the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels are naming their new nutrition center after the former Gamecock, while his high school will have a few honors bearing his name. Sept. 13 was originally made Tylee Craft Day last year. They had to postpone the celebration this year because SHS didn't have a home game that week. Instead, they were going to honor him this weekend for homecoming, which they did at their matchup with Blythewood before hosting his funeral on Sunday. Tylee Craft Day will live on at Sumter High, as will a new award bearing his name. It will be given to a three-sport athlete who embodies Tylee's tireless work ethic. "Tylee was loved. Tylee is really, really loved," September said. "I know he's looking down and watching everything." TYLEE HEZEKIAH CRAFT Posted Thursday, October 17, 2024 4:04 pm “Let your faith be bigger than your fear.” Hebrews 13:6 Tylee “Ty” Hezekiah Craft entered his heavenly home on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at UNC Hospice Care in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Born on Oct. 1, 2001, in Sumter, South Carolina, he was the youngest of two sons born to September Craft. “Ty,” as he was affectionately called, was reared in a Christian home full of strong faith in God, impeccable integrity and a firm belief in hard honest work. He was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where he was an “Angels In Motion” praise dancer. He was educated in the public schools in Sumter County, graduating early in December 2019 from Sumter High School with a 4.46 GPA. During his junior and senior years, he was enrolled in Sumter High School and Central Carolina Technical College's dual-enrollment program with near completion of an associate degree. He then received a full athletic scholarship and entered University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a second-semester freshman in 2020 as a wide receiver, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sports Science/Sports Administration. On May 12, 2024, he received his BA and his Master’s Degree on Oct. 10, 2024, in Applied Professional Studies from University of North Carolina with a 3.073 GPA. He was working toward being an NFL scout. Tylee was an SHS standout student athlete during his high school career that culminated in representing South Carolina in the 2019 Shrine Bowl as a senior. He was a multi-sport player earning varsity letters in track, basketball and football. He was recruited as a promising wide receiver for the Tar Heels. While at UNC, he was a student athlete working with the football and basketball teams. Tylee received numerous awards during his career: 2020-21 ACC Honor Roll; UNC Dean’s List fall 2020 and spring 2021, 2022-23 Tar Heel Scholar Athlete; 2022 Disney Spirit Award; UNC Quincy Monk Courage Award; UNC John Lotz Award Recipient; and was one of five college athletes named to the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team in the nation. Tylee also was the ambassador for the White Ribbon Project for Cancer Awareness. UNC will name its new nutrition center The Tylee Craft Nutrition Center. The UNC community rallied behind him with the “Tyleestrong” hashtag since his diagnosis. Ty’s infectious smile and warm heart affected all who encountered him. He never gave up on his dream to travel and meet different athletes. Ty loved football and loved his Tar Heels teammates. As stated by Tylee, “It makes my days better because I’m able to go and spend time with the team and still be surrounded by my teammates and still go to classes and go to workouts when I can.” In 2023, Jordan Gregg and Tylee Craft gave back to their community by hosting Tylee Craft Flight School, teaching young athletes football skills and life lessons. One is hanging in the wing of the SECU House where he stayed. He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving and devoted mother, September Craft; older brother, Taykell McCray of Sumter; maternal grandmother, Christine Irving (Philip) of Philadelphia; paternal grandfather, Girard McQuiller (Sylvania), and Henry McCray of Sumter; maternal great-grandmother, Annie Mae McQuiller of Sumter; special aunt, Frances C. Moss of Sumter; nephew, Master Legend K. McCray of Sumter; and steadfast/beloved girlfriend, Olivia Deepak of Charlottesville, Virginia; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. Public viewing will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Job’s Mortuary. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Sumter High School Gymnasium, 2580 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter, with the Rev. James Moses Smith, officiating, and Chaplin Mitch Mason, words of comfort. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park. Donations can be made to the SECU Family House in Chapel Hill, N.C., and/or Tylee Craft Nutrition Center at UNC-Chapel Hill in memory of Tylee. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuaryinc@gmail.com, or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.  [1, 2, 3]
  HIST	Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft passes after lengthy cancer battle Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft passed away on Saturday after battling cancer for more than two years. PHOTO PROVIDED Posted Saturday, October 12, 2024 5:04 pm STAFF REPORT Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft, who inspired so many during his courageous battle with cancer, passed away on Saturday, just 11 days after his 23rd birthday. The University of North Carolina, where Craft played for two seasons prior to his cancer diagnosis in March of 2022, announced the loss shortly after their matchup with Georgia Tech. “This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years,” head coach Mack Brown said after the game. “The doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve. And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn’t miss a meeting, he didn’t miss practice, he coached these other incredible young people.” "It is with love and fond memories that we announce Tylee Craft has begun his journey on the other side," the post from the North Carolina football progam read. "Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for. He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity. "On behalf of his family and our program, we sincerely thank everyone who supported Tylee during his battle with cancer. It means more than you know. "With love and affection, #TyleeStrongForever" The game was Cancer Awareness Day at the stadium, and the Tar Heels recognized Craft and his family during the game.  Wide receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft's jersey with his No. 13 and name in the matchup against Georgia Tech. Brown said he did not learn of Craft’s passing until after the game, but could tell from a long hug with his mother, September Craft, during the ceremony that something had already happened, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. “I think the family feels the love, and they’ll continue to feel the love,” Brown said. “What we’ve got to do is be strong, and pray for strength for us as leaders, to help these guys on the field and off the field. … So more than ever before I have got to step up and be stronger for them and make sure that I can help them manage the stuff and move forward in their lives.” Craft was a standout receiver at Sumter High, earning a trip to the Shine Bowl of the Carolinas as a senior before heading up to Chapel Hill to play for the Tar Heels. He was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer on March 14, 2022, but inspired the world with his positivity despite his situation. He received the Disney Spirit Award in December of 2022. “I’ve learned to keep fighting, to never give up, to keep swinging, that there’s always someone in your corner,” Craft said over video call on the ESPN broadcast. “If they’re not, just believe that I am, as well. That’s the main thing is keep swinging and keep fighting. Have fun and be positive in everything that I do.” The cancer spread to his brain and spine in 2023, but Tylee kept fighting. He remained a student at UNC and graduated this spring. He was in the process of obtaining his graduate degree with the goal of becoming an NFL scout before he passed. He was awarded his Master's this week by the university. Craft formally medically retired from football in July of 2024. Tylee Craft remembered for unforgettable mark he left on Sumter, Chapel Hill Tylee Craft was an electric player on the field, but he was an even more magnetic person away from the gridiron. Even after his cancer diagnosis, he gave back to his two homes, Sumter and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and always put on a brave face as he fought the most challenging battle of his life for two-and-a-half years. ADAM FLASH / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Saturday, October 19, 2024 6:00 am I'm sure he had his 'Why me' moments. I know there were times that were dark, but none of us ever saw that, and he didn't want anyone to see that. He wanted to be the picture of a fighter, a competitor that was going to be positive, and he was going to do his best to beat this and help other people through this. He visited kids that were sick and shared his story. He brought in a lot of awareness to that cancer because it's so rare. It became his platform.” MANDY BLANKENSHIP, TYLEE CRAFT'S TEACHER AND FRIEND By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com When Tylee Craft walked into the room, you felt his presence. It's not because the former Sumter High wide receiver was boastful. He was far from that. But he had a type of charisma that few people have. Even as he battled Stage 4 lung cancer for two-and-a-half years, his warm smile somehow left the impression that everything was right in the world, despite the fact that his body was destroying itself from within. When Tylee passed away on Saturday, Oct. 12, the world got a little dimmer. "In today's world, we tend to embellish things. Everything is the greatest that's ever been," Sumter High head coach Mark Barnes said. "But he was different." BEFORE STARDOM Tylee was born at Tuomey Hospital to September Craft on Oct. 1, 2001. He had a childhood that is familiar to so many families in Sumter. Tylee was raised by a single mother and always tried to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Taykell McCray, who was just 22 months his senior. "Me being his older brother, he was always trying to outdo me," Taykell said. "Around my grandfather's neighborhood, there were a lot of kids around our age, so we all just really had big games of football and basketball and ran around the neighborhood playing hide and seek or cops and robbers." Tylee was a natural athlete, playing football, basketball and running track at Sumter High. When September first started him in flag football, he was the only kid who kept up with their coach during warmups. Foreshadowing the selfless person he would grow into, he played out of position when he first started football. The team needed a quarterback, so he volunteered. While many kids dream of being the star quarterback, the center of attention, Tylee wanted to be the one making highlights on the receiving end of passes. "He said all he does is throw the ball and everyone else has fun by running and tackling," September remembered. When Tylee was playing Parks and Recreation football, he met a friend for life in O'Donnell Fortune. The two were the perfect pair. As they got to Sumter High, Tylee played wide receiver, while Fortune was his opposite at defensive back. "Tylee was like my brother, man," Fortune said. When that dynamic duo first walked onto the field at Sumter High, Barnes knew he had something special coming his way. "They looked different than everybody else, and I said, 'Guys, you have to study and get in the weight room because you have a future in this game,'" Barnes said. Tylee and Fortune continued to be perfect mirrors as they decided on their next steps in life. Tylee committed to play for North Carolina, while Fortune suited up for the Gamecocks. They both earned a trip to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas as seniors and spent their weekend at the annual bowl game formally signing their letters of intent side by side. "We just did everything together," Fortune said simply. "Tylee, for me, was always a role model. He was always inspiring." PASSIONATE FOR PEOPLE Mandy Blankenship first met Tylee when he was a freshman in her English II class. She could tell he was a unique guy right away. While Tylee was always quiet, she noticed that he sat right in the middle of the room. He just loved being in the middle of the action, even if he didn't always have much to say. "He loved people, and he loved seeing people as their authentic selves," Blankenship said. People gravitated to Tylee because of that passion he had for everyone in his life. It didn't matter if you were a childhood best friend or the cafeteria worker serving his lunch, Tylee wanted to connect with people. "There was a kid in his class that was always rambunctious," Blankenship recalled. "I said to him one day, 'Tylee, you've got to talk to your buddy because he's about to drive me insane.' And he just goes, 'Mrs. Blankenship, it's all right. He's just being him.' And I was like, we've got to have order, but he is. He didn't mean any harm. "That's Tylee. He just accepted everyone openly as who they are. Our community needs a lot of that. The things that divide people didn't matter to him. That's the beauty of it." Sumter High Principal Anamaria Sandor was thankful that every student who got to know Tylee was able to find a role model. "Tylee embodied Gamecock greatness," she said. "He excelled at everything he did, and he was very loved. Everybody loved Tylee. He was humble. He was not outspoken, but he was always the first one to do something when asked. And he was a role model in the football team and the school. When you wanted something done, you could go ask Tylee." For a while, Barnes thought Tylee might be a bit too nice. While he appreciated Tylee's ability to lead by example, he wanted to see the edge that so many star players have. Before Tylee's senior year, he saw a switch flip. "I can remember we were at 7-on-7 over at Camden and Tylee is abusing a guy, and Tylee kinda taps him on the helmet and says, 'It'll be OK,'" Barnes said. "I'm laughing, but I can't laugh. I have to get on to him and say, 'Tylee, don't do that junk, now.' When I'm walking back, I'm saying, 'Finally!' He's always been that great player, but now he has that edge about him and he's become a leader for us because he's become a more outspoken, dominant player." As a senior, Tylee proved why he was committed to North Carolina. He caught 38 passes for 593 yards and six touchdowns, adding an 85-yard kick return for a score. But off the field, he was still the sweet kid Blankenship loved. "His mom sent me a picture of his dorm room, and there was a bulletin board with a picture of the two of us," Blankenship said. "Somebody snapped a picture of the two of us walking off the field together, and he has his arm around me on my shoulder, and I'm patting him on the back and we're just smiling, walking away. He wanted that printed out and on his bulletin board in his freshman dorm. It was just awesome. "Every Mother's Day I would get a text from him saying happy Mother's Day and that he loves me, and every Thanksgiving, he'd text me and say he's thankful for me. Just a thoughtful kid. He was a student, but as the years went by, he became a friend. That's how he was with a lot of people. He cultivated friendships, meaningful friendships, with people." MARCH 14, 2022 Tylee was gearing up for his third season in Chapel Hill when his life changed forever. While practicing, he occasionally struggled to catch his breath fully. He felt a little achier than he was used to. In an abundance of caution, he got checked out, but the Craft family had no idea how much their lives would be turned upside down. But when Tylee was diagnosed with a rare form of Stage 4 lung cancer, he didn't bat an eye. "I was the one that bust out crying, and he was on the bed at the hospital asleep," September said. "I grabbed him and was holding him, and he woke up like, 'What's going on?' And I said, 'You've got Stage 4 cancer,' and he's patting me, telling me it's going to be OK. In my mind I'm thinking, 'Oh, I'm about to lose my son.' I'm panicking, and if he was panicking, he did not show it." That mentality was lauded across the nation. Suddenly, Tylee was thrust into stardom in a way he never could've anticipated. He received the Disney Spirit Award because of the way he inspired so many people who were suffering through their own cancer battles. The #TyleeStrong became a flagship saying in both Chapel Hill and Sumter. "I think Tylee's biggest plan in this whole thing is he was going to fight like crazy, and he wasn't going to let anyone know he was hurt. He was going to find a way," Barnes said. "I told somebody that I regret the fact that Tylee never got to show everybody how good a player he was in college, but I reckon the disease and the cancer gave him the opportunity to show everybody what type of person he was. "College athletics is such a big business, and people almost look at them like they're not real people. But because of this disease, he got to show everybody how strong a person he was. It affected people in other ways. They didn't look at him like he was just a jock; he's a great human being." While Tylee always felt at home in Chapel Hill, during his cancer battle, the University of North Carolina rallied behind the Sumter native in such an incredible fashion. Barnes has known UNC head coach Mack Brown and wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway for decades. Once Tylee was diagnosed, he was beyond thankful his former star was a Tar Heel. "When he made the decision to go to North Carolina, I wasn't 100% sure that was the right decision," Barnes admitted. "But when this happened and he got that diagnosis, I knew he was at the right place because of Mack and Lonnie. They were going to go above and beyond to be the right people for him and September in that situation. When I reflect back on that, he couldn't have made a better choice." Throughout his fight, Tylee tried to put on a brave face for all the people in his life. He tried to keep conversations away from his cancer battle. He just flashed his charming smile and turned the conversation in a different direction, and his loved ones were happy to oblige. "I'm sure he had his 'Why me' moments," Blankenship said. "I know there were times that were dark, but none of us ever saw that, and he didn't want anyone to see that. He wanted to be the picture of a fighter, a competitor that was going to be positive, and he was going to do his best to beat this and help other people through this. He visited kids that were sick and shared his story. He brought in a lot of awareness to that cancer because it's so rare. It became his platform." Throughout his entire cancer battle, Tylee stayed committed to his work on and off the field. He constantly tried to work his way back into playing shape, but every time he took a step in the right direction, the cancer would swing back even harder. Despite that, Tylee stayed locked into his course work. "If he's sick and he just had chemo, he would still go to the university and go to class, he would go to practice," September said. "One time, he had chemo and texted his professor, 'Hey, I'm coming,' and took an exam." That grit and determination helped Tylee earn his bachelor's degree this spring. He then began work toward his master's, which he received from the university days before he passed. "He would tell people, 'Just keep swinging.' He got that from Mitch Mason, the chaplain from UNC," September said. "It is what it is; you still have to live life. Tylee was determined that he was going to live his life. He wanted to travel, which he did travel a little bit by going to Spain this year. He went to Denmark this year. He wanted to do skydiving. "His doctor was like, 'Well, why would you want to do that? Who in their right mind wants to jump out of the plane?' But Tylee wanted to do that. He never got a chance to do it, but I just feel like Tylee wasn't sure if he was going to make it or survive, so it's like, 'Let me go ahead and just live my life as long as I can.'" September was glad her son was able to see the world before he passed, even if it stressed her out beyond belief. He still had a few places he never had the chance to visit, including a few cities in Germany, Rome, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. "There were some other places that he wanted to go to that I saw in his phone," September said. "So, I'm gonna try to live that out and go those places." INSPIRATION Tylee touched so many lives during his 23 years on this Earth. While so many kids look up to their older brothers, Taykell was inspired by the man who was born 22 months after him. "I learned a lot from him. He inspired me just as much as he inspired everybody else," Taykell said. "He's my little brother, but I also looked up to him because of the person he was. In my opinion, he was my role model." Despite his ongoing cancer battle, Tylee still took the time to give his time to younger athletes coming through Sumter High. In the summer of 2023, Tylee hosted a camp with former teammate Jordan Gregg that they called "Flight School." He didn't care how he was feeling, he wanted to help mold the next generation on and off the field. "He just wanted the kids here to follow (their) dream. Follow your dream, do what you're supposed to do while you're in school grade-wise, stay out of trouble, and you can get that four-year scholarship, too. If you are serious about wanting to play football or basketball, follow your dreams and work hard towards it," September said. "A lot of these kids get lost to the streets and get caught up in stuff and mess up their careers. He let them know, 'I got cancer, but I'm still truckin'. I may not be on the field, but I'm still standing on the sideline, I'm still there.'" Barnes was incredibly grateful to have a former player like Tylee who cared so much for the community that raised him. "I tell everyone that I'm too old to learn new tricks, but Tylee has taught me a lot of tricks," he said. "He taught me how to prioritize what's important right now, instead of the old coach in us that has to correct everything. When you see Tylee, I just think I better be happy today. "I think everybody that dealt with Tylee, even though we didn't have him for as long as we wanted to have him, we were better off because we did have him in our lives." FIGHTING UNTIL THE END Tylee's health took a sudden turn for the worse, and he was admitted into hospice on Thursday, Oct. 10. On Friday, his family was told Tylee likely wouldn't live through the night. Like he did for the last two-and-a-half years, Tylee kept fighting. "She kept coming back in the room, and her expression was, 'He's still here?' She thought he would've already passed," September said of the medical staff. "She said, 'I think he would go if nobody was in the room because he feels all the love from the family.' We all looked at each other like we're not budging, we're not leaving him. He stayed throughout the night. The next morning, still in the same state, and they kept coming in to check on him." On Saturday, North Carolina was going to honor Tylee with its annual cancer awareness game. After a discussion as a family, September thought it was best that they attend the game in his honor. So, they made the 30-minute drive to the stadium and were recognized at the end of the first quarter. As soon as the ceremony was over, September sped back to her son. "His girlfriend called me, and I was like five minutes away, and she was like, 'You need to hurry up, the nurse said that it's about to happen,'" September said. "By the time I got there and came running down the hall, I heard his aunt cry out, and she said, 'He just took his last breath.' So, I wasn't in the room when it happened." September tried to find solace in missing that final moment with her son, as impossible as that task may sound. "I feel like he wouldn't want to have taken his last breath with me being there," she said. "He was always worried about me; Tylee didn't worry about himself. He wanted to make sure I'm OK. I was telling him those past two nights, whispering in his ear, 'Mommy's gonna be OK. I'm gonna be OK; don't worry about me, I'm gonna be OK.'" While Tylee was gone too soon, he more than left his impact on the world around him. "When he was lying there before he passed, I just told him, 'You fought your fight. I can't be selfish and keep wanting you to keep fighting and fighting, and you're taking the poison of chemo and then the radiation and you're feeling the sickness, not me ... You've done what you're supposed to do,'" she said. "God put everybody on this Earth for a reason. We've all got to figure out what our purpose here is for, and Tylee did that already." Barnes tried to find a similar silver lining in the loss of his former star. "But I remember when Lonnie called me to tell me the day it happened, and I remember I was mad. I was like, 'Why would God do this to a guy that does everything right?' I know, as a religious guy, that you're not supposed to ask that question, but I didn't understand," Barnes said. "I got mad, but I don't think Tylee ever got mad. Selfishly, I didn't understand this, but I think God picked the right one because he has touched so many people with the way he dealt with it, versus the way I probably would've dealt with it. He just has such strong character. I'm sure in his room, when no one was around, that it affected him a different way, but in public, I was just amazed. With September, too. I was amazed with how they handled it. "From our standpoint, it was a bad day, but from Tylee's standpoint, I think he's in a much better place and not suffering anymore. I'm kinda happy for him that he's not suffering anymore. I know that doesn't sound right, but that was my impression of the day." ONE LAST TIME WITH TYLEE The Sumter community got one final day with Tylee when Sumter High opened its football season against Lakewood on Aug. 23. Tylee was right where he belonged, on the sidelines at Sumter High. Fortune was right by his side. While he didn't know it at the time, he was thankful to have one last evening with his friend. "It's love," Fortune said. "I hadn't seen him in person for a minute before then, and when I saw him, it just put a smile on my face, and it put a smile on his face because that's my brother since the sixth grade. Seeing him out there watching everything, knowing what's going on, that took some heart. It was good seeing him and catching up on everything." Ever the perfectionist, Barnes was frustrated with the way his team played in the opening half of the season opener against the Gators. He was fuming a bit when he walked toward the locker room at halftime, but all of that melted away when he saw a familiar smile. "Tylee was standing at the door when I walked in the locker room, and it just kinda stunned me like, 'Gosh, this dude is in here smiling and happy to be here, and he looked like the happiest guy in the joint,'" Barnes said. "It just kind of struck me that, no matter the circumstances, he was going to be a positive guy and fight and smile and have fun and enjoy life to the most degree he could for the situation he was in, whether it was playing here or when he was sick, and I admire that about him." "We saw Tylee as we know Tylee," Sandor said, "enjoying the game and smiling." Barnes got a keepsake he'll cherish forever that night, getting one final photo with his star duo. "The game got away a little bit, and I told them I wanted to get a picture of both of them together," the SHS coach said. "Tylee came up to me and kinda tapped me on the shoulder in the third quarter and said, 'We better get it in at the end of the third because we're going to be leaving.' We stopped and got a picture, and that's one I'll keep and remember." Tylee's memory will last at both Sumter High and the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels are naming their new nutrition center after the former Gamecock, while his high school will have a few honors bearing his name. Sept. 13 was originally made Tylee Craft Day last year. They had to postpone the celebration this year because SHS didn't have a home game that week. Instead, they were going to honor him this weekend for homecoming, which they did at their matchup with Blythewood before hosting his funeral on Sunday. Tylee Craft Day will live on at Sumter High, as will a new award bearing his name. It will be given to a three-sport athlete who embodies Tylee's tireless work ethic. "Tylee was loved. Tylee is really, really loved," September said. "I know he's looking down and watching everything." TYLEE HEZEKIAH CRAFT Posted Thursday, October 17, 2024 4:04 pm “Let your faith be bigger than your fear.” Hebrews 13:6 Tylee “Ty” Hezekiah Craft entered his heavenly home on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at UNC Hospice Care in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Born on Oct. 1, 2001, in Sumter, South Carolina, he was the youngest of two sons born to September Craft. “Ty,” as he was affectionately called, was reared in a Christian home full of strong faith in God, impeccable integrity and a firm belief in hard honest work. He was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where he was an “Angels In Motion” praise dancer. He was educated in the public schools in Sumter County, graduating early in December 2019 from Sumter High School with a 4.46 GPA. During his junior and senior years, he was enrolled in Sumter High School and Central Carolina Technical College's dual-enrollment program with near completion of an associate degree. He then received a full athletic scholarship and entered University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a second-semester freshman in 2020 as a wide receiver, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sports Science/Sports Administration. On May 12, 2024, he received his BA and his Master’s Degree on Oct. 10, 2024, in Applied Professional Studies from University of North Carolina with a 3.073 GPA. He was working toward being an NFL scout. Tylee was an SHS standout student athlete during his high school career that culminated in representing South Carolina in the 2019 Shrine Bowl as a senior. He was a multi-sport player earning varsity letters in track, basketball and football. He was recruited as a promising wide receiver for the Tar Heels. While at UNC, he was a student athlete working with the football and basketball teams. Tylee received numerous awards during his career: 2020-21 ACC Honor Roll; UNC Dean’s List fall 2020 and spring 2021, 2022-23 Tar Heel Scholar Athlete; 2022 Disney Spirit Award; UNC Quincy Monk Courage Award; UNC John Lotz Award Recipient; and was one of five college athletes named to the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team in the nation. Tylee also was the ambassador for the White Ribbon Project for Cancer Awareness. UNC will name its new nutrition center The Tylee Craft Nutrition Center. The UNC community rallied behind him with the “Tyleestrong” hashtag since his diagnosis. Ty’s infectious smile and warm heart affected all who encountered him. He never gave up on his dream to travel and meet different athletes. Ty loved football and loved his Tar Heels teammates. As stated by Tylee, “It makes my days better because I’m able to go and spend time with the team and still be surrounded by my teammates and still go to classes and go to workouts when I can.” In 2023, Jordan Gregg and Tylee Craft gave back to their community by hosting Tylee Craft Flight School, teaching young athletes football skills and life lessons. One is hanging in the wing of the SECU House where he stayed. He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving and devoted mother, September Craft; older brother, Taykell McCray of Sumter; maternal grandmother, Christine Irving (Philip) of Philadelphia; paternal grandfather, Girard McQuiller (Sylvania), and Henry McCray of Sumter; maternal great-grandmother, Annie Mae McQuiller of Sumter; special aunt, Frances C. Moss of Sumter; nephew, Master Legend K. McCray of Sumter; and steadfast/beloved girlfriend, Olivia Deepak of Charlottesville, Virginia; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. Public viewing will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Job’s Mortuary. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Sumter High School Gymnasium, 2580 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter, with the Rev. James Moses Smith, officiating, and Chaplin Mitch Mason, words of comfort. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park. Donations can be made to the SECU Family House in Chapel Hill, N.C., and/or Tylee Craft Nutrition Center at UNC-Chapel Hill in memory of Tylee. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuaryinc@gmail.com, or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.
  _UID	A1F7478C70304D2E913546CA7FD6B83CA532
  _UID	A1F7478C70304D2E913546CA7FD6B83CA532
  Death	12 Oct 2024	SECU Jim & Betsey Bryan UNC Hospice Home, Pittsboro, North Carolina
  Burial	20 Oct 2024	Evergreen Memoral Park Cemetery, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina   [3]
  	Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, South Carolina Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I345839	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	20 Oct 2024

  
  

  Father	CRAFT
  Mother	September LEE
  _UID	B74053D5E6F44262A4B4E1C5551DAB651D66
  _UID	B74053D5E6F44262A4B4E1C5551DAB651D66
  Family ID	F230829	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Olivia DEEPAK
  _UID	B87EAE42E63748CC899EF5FA3EF24501E374
  _UID	B87EAE42E63748CC899EF5FA3EF24501E374
  Family ID	F230828	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Oct 2024

  
  

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  [S32166] Former Sumter High star Tylee Craft passes away after battle with cancer. [S32167] Tylee Craft remembered for unforgettable mark he left on Sumter, Chapel Hill. [S32168] Tylee Hezekiah Craft.