Perry teenager remembered for giving spirit, passion for music

Kody Lucas, a Perry High School graduate who captured the hearts of many during his five-year battle with brain cancer, died Tuesday. He was 19.

Throughout his fight with cancer, Lucas received hundreds, if not thousands, of cards from midstate residents and people across the world.

Lucas was well-known locally, in part due to his annual Birthday Blood Drive, first held in Perry in 2009. Doctors had told Lucas he wouldn’t live to see his 17th birthday. When he did, Lucas wanted to hold a blood drive to give back, said Ellie Williams, a family friend.

This year’s fourth annual blood drive already is scheduled for July 28 at Rozar Park in Perry, with a goal of collecting at least 200 units of blood. Lucas told Williams the blood drive always had to be fun for children because they’re future blood donors, Williams said.

Lucas always thought about others like that.

“He would give you everything he had and probably a few things he didn’t,” Williams said. “He was very giving, very unselfish.”

Lucas remained positive throughout his illness.

“He just had a spirit that didn’t quit,” Williams said. “You thought you were going to go cheer him up, but he didn’t need cheering up. He always had something funny to say.”

Lucas, who played the saxophone, dreamed of attending The Juilliard School and becoming a professional musician, Williams said. At the end of last year, he recorded a specially arranged version of “Danny Boy.” He wanted the recording to be played at his funeral, Williams said.

Monty Cole, a professor of music at the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University, said he first met Lucas when Lucas was about 14.

“He was one of the most talented young jazz musicians I had ever come across,” said Cole, who arranged “Danny Boy” for Lucas. “He had a most wonderful feel for music and a natural instinct to get the horn to go where he wanted it to go.”

Lucas was an inspiration for students at Perry High School, said Principal Darryl Albritton.

“He was a real courageous classmate during this time and was a great example to the whole student body for how to face adversity,” Albritton said.

One of Lucas’ last wishes was to star in a public service announcement to help in the fight against cancer, said Tyler Bryant, public relations director for the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation in Warner Robins. Lucas filmed the PSA for the foundation March 13.

The PSA featured Lucas recording “Danny Boy,” Bryant said. The PSA is not expected to air until September but can be seen on the foundation’s YouTube site. The video already has received more than 1,400 views.

Funeral services will be held at Cross Point Baptist Church, 645 Perry Parkway, in Perry. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, and the funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 256-9705.

This story was originally published April 10, 2012 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Perry teenager remembered for giving spirit, passion for music."