On April 1, Lamar Young, Midtown’s most veteran counselor, unexpectedly passed away, leaving an enduring legacy of endless dedication to student success. In a 30-year career in education, 15 years of which he spent as a counselor at Midtown, Young helped shape the educational trajectories of thousands of students.

“We knew immediately something had happened when he did not come to work on April 1 because like the sun, Mr. Young is reliable, rises and sets every day, same routine, same habit, predictable,” Bockman said. “He had the most incredible work ethic; you could email him on a Sunday, and he’d email back immediately. He was diligent in his efforts to bring things to a conclusion, and he was always available to help.”

In the days after his passing, Midtown’s counseling suite made a station for students to put up sticky notes with messages for Mr. Young. By the end of the first day, hundreds of multi-colored neon notes covered the entire wall.

“His impact is not measurable,” fellow counselor Tina Pellechia said. “What he did to inspire, encourage, push and challenge his students to reach their maximum potential can be documented only by their love and respect for him.”

Born and raised in Flint, Mich., Young attended Flint Public School System and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Young relocated to Georgia in 1999 to become a social studies teacher at Ralph J. Bunche Middle School. 

Midtown 504 Coordinator Alex Wallace began working with Young early in their teaching careers at Bunche, when Young was a social studies teacher and Wallace was a language arts teacher. Wallace believes Young’s belief system translated to the dedication he had to his work. 

“We forged a bond built on shared experiences and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and rewards of teaching,” Wallace said. “He was from Flint, and I was from Detroit, but our roots in Michigan connected us in ways that went beyond geography. His passion for education and his unwavering commitment to his students were a reflection of the resilience and strength that defined our home state.”

In his obituary, a quote from Young was highlighted, in which he credited his upbringing for instilling the values that he carried into his career.

”Professionally, education is the only work I’ve done,” Young wrote. “This is my life and it’s deeply important to me. In fact, it’s my wholehearted belief that my personal experiences have been the reason for my continuation in this profession. I value my work, my freedom, the hundreds of families to which I’ve developed relationships with and more importantly my peace of mind.”

Young served as a counselor for six years at Cedar Grove Middle School in Dekalb County before coming to Grady High School (now Midtown). Midtown Assistant Principal Willie Vincent recalled initially interviewing Young at Midtown in 2010.

“Dr. Murray [former principal at Grady] asked me what I thought after the interview,” Vincent said. “I said, ‘He’s a little mean but he’ll do a great job.’ Lamar thought I was mean too, but we went on a tour of the building that first day, and we’ve been best friends ever since. Kids would always mistake us for each other, and we were like brothers.”

Vincent said that Young showed up beyond what was required in his position.

“Most counselors do not work year-round; they have the capacity to shut off their emails in the summer,” Vincent said. “But I noticed the very first year Lamar didn’t shut off emails. He was like me, responding to scheduling issues at five or three in the morning in the middle of June. He had a fighting spirit and had no problem telling me or anybody else what he thought was best for kids. It was that spirit that pushed more kids into dual enrollment, pushed more kids into work-based learning and pushed more kids towards graduation.”

As a nationally board certified counselor, Young worked closely with students, teachers and the College & Career Center to create post-secondary educational pathways for students. He juggled a host of tasks, including managing student transcripts and scholarship applications. Additionally, he was passionate about alternative pathways for students, including dual enrollment and work-based learning.

“His dedication to education, passion for nurturing young minds and unwavering commitment to their success left an indelible mark on everyone who had the pleasure of learning from or working with him,” Wallace said. “In his role as a counselor, his thoughtful guidance, boundless energy and genuine care for each student went far beyond the classroom. He shaped not only their academic growth but also their character and confidence.”

In an interview with the Southerner in 2012, Young described his experience as a counselor and what kept the position attractive to him. 

“I absolutely enjoy what I do,” Young said. “It always amazes me how much fun I have by the end of the day. It’s exciting. It’s fun, and it’s very rewarding because I get an opportunity to impact people’s lives.”

During his time at Bunche, Young additionally became the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Coordinator at Ben S. Carson from 2002 to 2005. In this role, he promoted a college preparatory culture by enhancing the curriculum for college bound 6th-8th graders. 

“He could see things that I couldn’t see to help children move towards high levels of success,” Vincent said. “With programs like AVID, he tapped into all students, not just the upper echelon, but the students at the bottom who were wrestling with addiction and emotional issues.”

He continued personalized help for disadvantaged students at Midtown through Project Connect, which realigned students who were recovering from minor drug offenses in school. 

“He would do anything to find a solution and he was a really quiet cheerleader for lots of kids,” Bockman said. “He would do extra sessions for kids with Project Connect, because he was personally passionate about creating avenues for those kids. He was so intense about helping kids and sometimes it came off kind of controlling, but it was protective. I think he was misunderstood in that way.”

Pellechia believes that the tenacity and institutional knowledge Young held bettered the results of students as a whole.

“When I first started at Grady he was a great help in helping me learn the ropes,” Pellechia said. “After my first year we really worked together as teammates for the good of the whole. We collaborated, supported each other and disagreed at times but in the end, we respected each other.”

Vincent emphasized Young’s sense of humor that he brought to the job, uplifting co-workers and students alike.

“I didn’t pick this up in the interview when he was so stoic, but he is seriously funny,” Vincent said. “Young would tell a funny story and could do the greatest impersonations. He had the best impersonation of Dr. Bockman. This is what I’m really going to miss. Whenever I showed up at his door, he just burst out laughing because he knew that I was going to say something stupid and I knew that he was going to say something stupid.”

Outside of his job as a counselor, Young was passionate about astrology, publishing three books in the last decade, including “What’s the Deal with My Sign?: An Insight of Astrology.” 

“I started reading his book because I wanted to know more about him because I feel like we were all cheated with his sudden passing, no goodbye, no farewells, no tying up loose ends,” Bockman said. “He was just gone.”

In the wake of his death, Bockman has made the decision to not replace Young’s position for the 2025-26 school year. In the 2024-25 school year, the number of counselors was raised to five from four, so it will return back to four.

“His death has left a unique void that won’t be filled,” Bockman said. “His presence and impact on the Midtown faculty and students and the thousands of students prior to Midtown won’t be matched.”

Pellechia agrees with Bockman that Young’s absence is felt heavily in the counseling suite and school. 

“We are holding up but very sad,” Pellechia said. “However, we are continuing our work just as he would want us to do for the students. He is forever missed, but we can still feel him in the suite and in our hearts.”

Wallace said the character of Young is irreplaceable but will inspire leaders in the future of Midtown.

“Losing him feels like losing a piece of my own history, but the impact he had on his students, colleagues and the communities he served will never be forgotten,” Wallace said. “His sudden passing has left an unfillable void in the Midtown community, but his legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched. His contributions will be remembered and cherished, and the lessons he imparted will continue to inspire for years to come.”

*The Southerner staff send its deepest condolences to the Young family and close friends of Mr. Lamar Young.*