Beloved metro Atlanta high school football player dies unexpectedly

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — More than 100 people gathered to remember a friend, teammate and student who died unexpectedly. The recent high school graduate had just gone to the doctor for a stomachache.

Although the family does not have an official cause of death, his friends and family still organized a gathering Sunday evening at the Shorty Howell Park to honor 17-year-old James Doby.

“Doby was an amazing friend of mine,” said his friend Enfinity Greene. “He would always check up on me and make sure I was good.”

Doby graduated from Duluth High School a few months ago, and made an impact on the field and in the classroom where he was known simply as Doby.

“He helped everybody even when people were mean to him and he was a great person,” his friend Corey Walker said.

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Doby’s friends and family were shocked when they heard about his death. The teen went to the doctor with a stomachache and died in his apartment two days later, according to his family.

There was speculation that Doby contracted COVID-19 but his mother put those rumors to rest.

“He didn’t have COVID-19. We are still waiting on the me report before we know what’s going on. He did have COVID testing and they all came back negative,” his mother Kimberly Doby said.

The family is expecting autopsy results sometime this week. In the meantime a GoFundMe is set up to help the family with funeral arrangements.

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Cox Media Group