NICK'S STORY
Nicholas Adam Blakely (lovingly called Nick) was born in Decatur, GA on November 4, 1997 to Michelle Fields-Wilson and Milton Blakely.
Nick started playing football at the age of 6 at Lawrenceville Youth Association where he played until 8th grade. He attended and graduated from Archer High School in Lawrenceville, GA where he was a three-year letter in football. He also participated in basketball and track as well. He attended college at Stetson University in Deland, FL where he was an Accounting major and a member of the Stetson Hatters football team. Nick was not only an all-star, talented athlete; but most importantly, he was an honor student always maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better throughout high school and in his first year in college.
On August 28, 2017, while at football practice Nick collapsed. Earlier in the day, Nick complained he was not feeling well to the team staff. During team workouts that afternoon he expressed that he felt light-headed. He was pulled from drills and watched for 30 to 40 minutes when he started to show signs of recovery. However, he suddenly went into cardiac arrest, passed out and stopped breathing. Efforts were made to resuscitate his body; but were unsuccessful. Nick was later pronounced dead at Florida Hospital DeLand. Unbeknownst to Nick, his family, or his coaches, he had an enlarged heart, which led to SCA, his ultimate cause of death.
Nick was an extremely hard working and dedicated person and served as an inspiration and example to us all. Being the best at everything he put his mind and all his heart into, Nick was intensively competitive and would never back down from a challenge.
Nick’s infectious smile and bubbly personality had a magnetism that drew you to him. He was always so full of life and energy.
Nick professed his faith in Christ at the age of 16 and was baptized at 12 Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA. He was truly a child of God and was a faithful servant of God. Nick’s favorite scripture was “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. This was a scripture that he believed and followed faithfully. To know Nick was to love him; and if you knew him, you knew that he truly loved the Lord.