By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

EDGARD — The West St. John High School community will honor the legacy of Juan Joseph — a former coach, teacher and player at WSJ — Friday during a noon tree-planting ceremony in front of the school.

Joseph, 27, was fatally shot Nov. 16 outside Allure Nightclub in Baton Rouge.

Joseph taught with the St. John the Baptist Parish School District from 2011 to 2014, Superintendent Kevin George said.

Joseph was also helping guide this year’s playoff football team as a CECP coach.

George said the planned ceremony is a “testament to what Juan (Joseph) meant to the school,” adding the district wanted to put something in place to always remember Joseph.

“It’s important because Juan (Joseph) was one of the dream children of WSJ and the community,” said School Board member Russell Jack, whose area of representation includes Edgard. “He came back (after college) and gave so much to the community.”

Joseph, who played defense on WSJ’s 2003 state championship team as a junior and quarterbacked the Rams’ 2004 state championship team as a senior, was a three-time Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Division III Millsaps — the first player to earn the recognition three times.

Joseph also won the Conerly Trophy as the best college football player in Mississippi, edging out future NFL stars Michael Oher and Peria Jerry.

Jack said the tree will symbolize Joseph’s life and will be “very meaningful for students currently there and those to come.”

Joseph “had a very positive influence on the community and West St. John High School,” Jack said.

WSJ Principal Erica Merrick said the tree planting ceremony will precede the school’s annual Black History Month Program, themed “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.”

Merrick said the program — which will include various performances by students — will be dedicated to Joseph and a plaque will be presented to his parents at the ceremony.

“We miss him,” Merrick said.

“He’s what a positive African American male should be.”

Male WSJ students are asked to wear bowties Friday, Merrick said, which was one of Joseph’s trademark fashions.