HUEYTOWN, Ala. – In the bustling environment of Hueytown Intermediate School, a simple bench has taken on a special significance. The “buddy bench,” unveiled on Monday, Jan. 19 in the school gym, is a tribute to fifth grader Jace Watkins — a student whose energy, humor, and ability to make everyone feel included left a lasting impact.

Jace passed away due to complications from the flu just after Christmas. He was 11 years old. The ceremony brought together teachers, classmates, family members, and community leaders to honor his memory. During the event, a bench was revealed that serves as a place for students who may be looking for a friend. It also encourages others to stop, listen, and connect with those in need.

For Jace’s fifth-grade teacher, Elizabeth Williams, the tribute felt like a fitting way to remember her student. “I think it’s absolutely wonderful that we are dedicating a bench in memory of Jace because it was rare when he was actually sitting down in class,” she said.

Jace was known for his constant movement and quick wit, often moving through classrooms and hallways with jokes that left his classmates laughing — sometimes at their own expense. “He was very confident in himself with his jokes,” said friend Braxton Aloia. “He made me laugh so many times during class. It was very bad though because I got in trouble after.”

The bench was donated by Alabama radio host Mark White, who was inspired by the story of a Girl Scout who collected plastic caps to build a buddy bench in her community. This idea, combined with his own memories of growing up in Hueytown, led him to support the project.

“This is a way for kids who might be struggling or need a friend,” White explained. “They can sit down on the bench. Another kid can come and talk to them, share with them, and be that person for them. And I think that’s exactly what Jace was, so it’s an extension of him.”

For Jace’s family, the bench represents both loss and gratitude. “If he wasn’t on his dirt bike, he was playing video games,” said his grandfather, Scott Parsons. “He was always fun to be around.” Parsons added that seeing Jace remembered in such a meaningful way has been overwhelming. “It’s really an honor for our family,” he said. “Words cannot express how we feel, but thank you is the best I can say. But that’s not good enough for what everybody has done.”

The bench will remain in the school hallway, serving as a permanent reminder of Jace’s spirit — and a quiet invitation for kindness to continue.

“Jace is no longer here with us, but his legacy still is,” White said. “That friendship, the friendships that he had, those people that he cared about, they can in turn be friends to other people, and it leads to growth in the friendship realm and people being kind to each other.”

At Hueytown Intermediate, that legacy now has a place to sit — and a purpose that extends far beyond it.