Community still searching for Roy Whited one year later

Roy Whited

“We can grieve, yet still continue to celebrate his legacy, still continue to have hope.” That is the sentiment of Brad Walker about the one-year anniversary of Coach Roy Whited’s disappearance, on May 3, 2024. It has been one year since a pillar of the White County community vanished without a trace, yet Walker wants the community to recognize the reality of grieving, whether Whited is found or not.

Pastor Brad Walker has served First Baptist Church for several years, and he considered Roy to be a confidant, mentor, and beloved friend. Walker played basketball at White County High School under the direction of Whited, and the team won two state championships.  The disappearance has been hard for him, as it has many others, but he believes the community should allow itself the chance to grieve.

“I recall a story during COVID,” Walker said, “during the season when a lot of places were not allowed to have funerals and come together to grieve. As a pastor, I have so much counseling from that time, because it does something to people internally when there is no closure, no grieving.”

Walker believes the same applies to Whited’s disappearance. Regardless of the result of the investigation, or however much time it takes, Walker believes the community should allow itself to grieve.

“So I would say, while we haven’t given up hope, it’s still hard to go there with Coach Roy and get that closure,” he said. “I think a lot of people believe if we do that, we’re giving up hope. I want to give people permission to grieve because if you don’t, the consequences of not grieving are just devastating. To celebrate his legacy, to laugh, he would want us to do that if he is still with us or not.”

The celebration of legacy was the other main focus for Walker. Whited left an impact on White County, particularly as a teacher, coach, and mentor to students for years.

Walker said, “I want to celebrate the strengths. I want the stories to be shared. What I’m encouraging people to do is write down, or through social media, to share those stories. I want his voice, those stories of his impact. His teaching, his coaching, and his laughter.”

The investigation for Whited’s disappearance is still underway. The community that knew Whited hopes for news, but Walker is aware that all they can do at this time is wait for the sheriff’s office to make new progress.

“We have every desire to work amicably with the sheriff’s department,” he said, “but right now the ball is in their court. We can only wait and hope because we aren’t giving up hope. That being said, we have a capacity to celebrate his legacy and to remember stories and console one another. That’s what I’m turning my attention to, until more can come from the investigation.”

While the investigation continues, Walker does not want the community to stay paralyzed, unsure how to respond. For him, grief is still a natural step. In his own words, “Even if we find Roy, I still lost a friend for that whole year without him.”