On what would have been his birthday, the community gathered to honor a Loyd Star football player who died last fall.

During Loyd Star’s homecoming game, senior Peyton Flowers asked his coach if he could take a break. Flowers collapsed while sitting on the bench and was airlifted to Jackson that night. Flowers died on Nov. 6 after an almost week-long stay at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Lincoln County’s state representatives came together during the recent legislative session to name a stretch of Highway 550 in front of Loyd Star after Flowers.

“I think that was a situation that grabbed the community,” Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, told The Daily Leader in February. “In the end, we hope we’re going to have something to remember him by for years to come.”

Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, said that although he and Currie wrote the bill, they were inspired by the many calls from the community asking for a way to honor Flowers.

“The community has come behind the Flowers family, in particular the Loyd Star community,” he said.

The bill went into effect July 1, and the dedication ceremony took place Friday morning.

While Flowers was hospitalized, people across the community, state and nation came together to pray for Flowers and his family.