‘He had the biggest heart’: Shoals family wants community to remember 13-year-old’s legacy following his death

FLORENCE, Ala. (WAFF) - A family is remembering their son and asking the community to remember how he lived.

The Calvert family lost their 13-year-old son, Ryland, when he was shot and killed in Florence in March.,

A little over two weeks ago, Tiffany and Jon Calvert saw their son Ryland walk out of the house for the very last time without knowing what would happen that same night.

The Calverts have said they are still processing Ryland’s death. They are heartbroken and confused.

“Day by day,” Ryland’s mother Tiffany Calvert said. “Second by second.”

Passing time, seconds that Tiffany and Jon Calvert won’t get back with their son. 13-year-old Ryland Calvert was a star athlete at Colbert Heights. He played football and ran track.

He was set to turn 14 at the end of April, and now his family is mourning the loss of his life. Tiffany Calvert said she will miss the small and big moments that she has had with Ryland.

“Just waiting, thinking he was going to come through the doors,” Tiffany Calvert. “That’s what you’re wishing for even though you know it’s not true. You just learn to deal with it the best you can. I mean, I have moments where I can smile one moment, and then the next I’m just broken down.”

Tiffany and Jon Calvert say they miss how loud he would make the house, with his music playing loud or stomping around late at night looking for a snack.

But most of all, they will miss his kindness.

“People that knew his heart just not to forget how kind he was,” Tiffany Calvert said. “I mean, a lot of people have opinions right now, but you know I’ve also gotten tons of messages from people from track meets that I never even knew he met. Kids that he looked at as his competition, messaging me, their parents messaging me just how respectful he was.”

Both of his parents say they do not want to discuss the investigation into Ryland’s death, they just want people to remember him for how he lived: wearing his heart on his sleeve and his kindness to everyone he came into contact with. They are trying to heal from what happened, but Tiffany Calvert said she will never get over this loss because he was her baby.

Right now, they are asking for continued thoughts and prayers from the community. As well as anything that people can give, as they have a GoFundMe set up.

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