Quentin Moses remembered as 'much more than a football player' at vigil

Almost ten years ago, Quentin Moses, Andria Godard and the Athens community honored the life of Andria’s late husband, Xavier, who was a Cedar Shoals graduate in 2002 alongside his childhood best friend, Moses. Xavier Godard died in 2007.

On Thursday evening, Athens grieved once more, but this time it was for Moses, Andria and her daughter, Jasmine. All three died in a Monroe house fire early Sunday. Moses was 33. Andria was 31. Jasmine was 10.

Dexter Thompson, a fellow Cedar Shoals graduate and childhood friend of Moses’, helped to coordinate a vigil held in Turner-Neathery Gymnasium to commemorate Moses and the Godards. Speakers included first cousin Michael Johnson, pastor Rick Smith, Stella Collins, Ovita Thornton and Moses’ football coach at Cedar Shoals, Scott Wilkins.

“I’m not going to stand up here and tell you what a great football player that Quentin Moses was, because that’s something that you already know,” Wilkins said in a speech. “Quentin Moses was much more than a football player.”

Friends, family and community members gathered in the bleachers in the gym where Moses used to play. Moses was a three-sport athlete at Cedar Shoals, joining the basketball team his freshman year before he started playing football the next year. He also competed in track and field.

After graduating from Cedar Shoals in 2002, Moses went on to play for the University of Georgia, where he made the SEC academic honor roll twice. He was a first team All-SEC selection in 2005. Moses’ position coach at UGA, Jon Fabris, and UGA teammate D.J. Shockley were in attendance.

Moses spent four years in the NFL before joining the coaching ranks at Reinhardt University as a defensive assistant. Reinhardt held its own memorial for Moses on Wednesday.

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson was also in attendance, and issued Feb. 16 as an official “day of remembrance” for the Moses and Godard families. Denson said in a speech that while Moses’ grave will read 1983-2017, that the dash in between will signify his life lived to the full.

As the lights in Turner-Neathery Gymnasium dimmed for a brief few minutes and a candlelight vigil, all in attendance sat quiet. One final speaker spoke before Thompson closed out the event. Family and friends chatted before everyone filed out.

The viewing for Moses has been scheduled for Friday at Gardenview Funeral Chapel from 2-7 p.m., with family arriving at 5 p.m. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Church on Lexington Road.