EASTMAN, Ga. — The Dodge County High School community is in mourning following the sudden death of 17-year-old Hadden Kelly, a junior who collapsed during homecoming activities Monday morning and later died, authorities confirmed.
According to Dodge County Coroner Joe Smith, who is also Kelly’s uncle, the teen collapsed between 9:30 and 10 a.m. He was rushed to Dodge County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Smith described his nephew as an outgoing and talented young man, well-known for his love of golf. “Very outspoken and outgoing. A jam-up golfer. If he didn’t pass, I swear he would’ve gone pro,” Smith said. “Never met a stranger, talked to everybody. A great kid.”
Kelly’s death has left the school and community devastated. In a statement, Dodge County High School expressed its grief and called for prayers:
“There are no words to express the sadness that our DCHS family feels for the loss of junior Hadden Kelly. Please join us in prayer for his family, friends, and our DCHS family. Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”
An autopsy is scheduled to determine Kelly’s official cause of death.
As word of his passing spread, tributes began pouring in from classmates, teachers, and friends, remembering him not only for his athletic promise but also for the kindness, warmth, and energy he brought to those around him.