Approximately an hour prior to the start of the candlelight vigil, thunder roared, and lightning flashed in the sky above the stadium. Just before CJ’s family, friends, classmates and community members started to arrive, the sky silenced and a rainbow appeared in the sky above the stadium.

Ironically many of the pictures on display during the vigil which were colored by CJ’s classmates featured rainbows in them.

As those who came out to mourn CJ, show support to his family and celebrate his life filled into the stadium, many of them carrying balloons to release, they were handed candles to light to honor CJ.

As those in attendance lit their candles they were asked by Pastor Mark Blakeley, Wellsville First Christian Church to do a lap around the stadium and take time to say a prayer for CJ and his family while walking.

Deidre and Clayton Talbert Sr., parents of CJ, 9, a Wellsville student killed while riding his bike, hold his framed Wellsville football jersey during the candlelight vigil held to mourn CJ and show support for his family. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

After everyone completed a lap, they gathered together and

Blakeley led the crowd in a moment of silence before having everyone release their balloons, many of which had messages to CJ on them or lanterns into the sky.

Blakeley then addressed CJ’s classmates and told them to work hard, study hard and do the best they can do to make CJ proud of them and while they were doing that they were to remember him, his life, the fun they had with him and by doing that CJ would be with them and his legacy would continue.

CJ’s parents Deidre and Clayton Sr. held his Wellsville football jersey in a frame and they and CJ’s grandmother Donna Graves were surrounded by close friends and family offering comfort during the vigil.

CJ was described by many as a fun, loving, boy who always had a smile.

Jenna Knicely, 13, holds her candle for her sister Madison to light during the candlelight vigil held Wednesday to mourn their cousin CJ Talbert. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Daw Elementary School Principal Erin Clemmer said she wants the family to know that they are coming together to support them in any way they can.

“CJ was loved by everybody, by his classmates, his teachers and he was probably the happiest little boy that I have ever seen, smiling all the time,” Clemmer said. “He brought happiness, silliness and light to every classroom. He is going to be missed.”

Wellsville School Superintendent David Cappuzzello, who in his career has been through the loss of four students, was shaken by the loss of CJ.

“It’s sad, you never get used to it, you shouldn’t get used to it and it’s just heartbreaking, each one of them,” Cappuzzello said.

Cappuzzello said that when he watched the teachers come in the school the other day and saw their reactions, it just confirmed everything he knew about CJ.

His smile, he had a great smile that I just always kept with me,” Cappuzzello said. “He was just a good friend; a good person and he was always around people. He was always with teachers; he loved being with the teachers.”

CJ’s teacher Maxine Ross, who also had CJ in her class when he was in second grade, described him as being the sweetest boy who didn’t have a mean bone in his body and was always kind to everybody.

“He was sweet and always wanted to be friends with everybody and was kind to everyone,” Ross said.

Ross noted that the students carry a lantern from room to room for CJ and place it on his desk. His locker has been decorated along with the wall across from the classroom with pictures from the floor to the ceiling drawn by the fourth-grade students.

Adrianna Walsh, 10, a friend and classmate of CJ’s, said she was shocked that he died. She noted that it’s kind of OK going to class now, but everyone is just sad. Adriana said that having people and therapy dogs come into the classroom helped her and the other classmates.

She also said that there is a lantern in the classroom provided by Ross to help the students remember CJ and it does help her feel like he is there with them especially on a few occasions where the lantern has turned off by itself.

Jenna, 13 and Madison, 14, Knicely, CJ’s cousins, said they were sad but found the turnout at the vigil to be comforting to them.

Steven and Melinda Click, family friends, came to the vigil with a bouquet of balloons in Wellsville colors orange and black, said that CJ always had a smile on his face and it was good to see the community come together for him.

Denise Travers, paraprofessional, Wellsville Schools, said she is really going to miss CJ and with his loss a big part of the school is going to be gone.

A GoFundMe page has been set up at www.gofundme.com/f/cj-talbert by Graves to collect donations to help the family cover the funeral costs.

Donations are also being collected by Daw Elementary School.