HATTIESBURG — His name was Derek Javis Sr., but everyone called him “Big Red.”

“He was one of the tallest guys I ever met. That’s why we called him ‘Big Red,’” said Morgan Mizell, who went to school in Natchez with Jarvis from grade school through graduation from Natchez High School in 2002.

Jarvis, who was an assistant basketball coach and defensive line football coach at Hattiesburg High School, died unexpectedly overnight Wednesday and the news broke on the Hattiesburg Athletics Booster Club’s Facebook Page on Thursday morning.

Mizell said she remembers Jarvis as a standout on the Natchez High basketball team. She said everyone loved Jarvis because of his great personality.

“He was a special person to us (classmates),” Mizell said of Jarvis. “He was one of those people who no matter how long it had been since you had seen him would grab you up and hug you like he had not seen you in forever.”

Tony Vance, athletic coordinator and head football coach at Hattiesburg High School, said the school was shocked by Jarvis’ sudden death.

“To know him was to love him,” Vance said. “He left a legacy behind — one worth leaving behind. He made an impact on everyone he came into contact with, especially young people and used athletics to teach them. He was a great coach and motivator with a great gift.”

Vance said he did not know yet what had caused Jarvis’ death but that he had been transported to the hospital sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday where he died of some yet-to-be-disclosed medical reason.

He leaves behind wife, Sadora, and two sons, Dillon and Derek Jr., known as “D.J.”

Jarvis joined the coaching staff at Hattiesburg High School last fall and had been an assistant coach at Oak Grove High School, just outside of Hattiesburg, the previous year.

Vance said Jarvis was instrumental in leading the Hattiesburg High Tigers, 14-1, football team to the 5-A State Championship game last season where they lost to West Point.’

As an assistant basketball coach, Vance said Jarvis helped lead the Tigers to the district championship and to the state tournament.

Everyone in and around Hattiesburg knew Jarvis, Vance said, and the school had brought counselors on Thursday to help students deal with the loss.
On Friday students were encouraged to wear red T-shirts and uniform pants.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Derek ‘Red’ Jarvis,” a Hattiesburg High tweet stated. “Students wear red t-shirts and uniform pants Friday 5/4 to honor Coach Red. Students who wear red t-shirts must bring one dollar. Give money to your 1st-period teachers. The funds will go to the Jarvis Family.”
Vance said Jarvis will be missed.

“He was a great, great man, great father, great husband, mentor, leader, role model not just to Hattiesburg High but to everyone in Hattiesburg,” Vance said. “He was one of those guys who impacted everyone he came in to contact with, reaching young people, making them believe in themselves.”

Mizell said their Natchez High School classmates are working to do something special for Jarvis’ funeral, the details of which have not yet been determined.

“As a class, we have lost a few of our classmates unexpectedly, under various circumstances,” Mizell said. “This particular loss, this one has really kind of shaken our class, and we are working to make sure his family knows how well he was loved by his classmates. We will always remember Big Red. He was a special person to us.”