Glenn High Community Mourns Student Lost in Flooding

Braxton Jarmon, a rising sophomore at Glenn High School in the Leander school district, died Saturday in flooding that has torn apart Hill Country communities, including in western Travis County.

A member of the band and football team, Braxton was described by adults who knew him as a joyful, kind and committed person who “brought a light” to those around him.

Braxton is among more than 100 people who have died statewide, including 15 in Burnet, Travis and Williamson counties, in devastating floods that swept through the region over the weekend.

The Glenn High band community learned Braxton and his sister were missing through a network of carpool groups, said Matthew Garrison, the director of bands at the school. As of Tuesday afternoon, Braxton’s sister was still missing.

News travels quickly among the band and football community and people began reaching out to each other as soon as they heard the news of flooding along Big Sandy Creek, Garrison said.

“At first, we hoped we could support the family in rebuilding,” he said. “We began organizing a fundraiser with the football boosters, still clinging to the belief that we might be helping them recover, not mourn.”

Braxton balanced his school, football and band with remarkable dedication, and losing him will be a blow to the heart of the community, Garrison said.

On one day during summer band camp, Garrison noticed Braxton wearing a shirt that said, “I’m all in.”

“Braxton, are you ‘all in’ today,” Garrison had asked him.

“Come on, Mr. Garrison,” Braxton had told him. “I’m always ‘all in.’”

Braxton’s “all in” personality carried throughout everything he did for the tight-knit band and football community at Glenn High, Garrison said. He helped with equipment and was quick to volunteer.

Leander’s school board President Anna Smith was heartbroken to hear the news. Her own daughter had marched in band all season next to Braxton, Smith said.

“He was just a great kid,” Smith said. “He had so much potential and was just so happy.”

Her daughter described a time she was having a bad day, and Braxton helped cheer her up, Smith said.

“We’re going to miss him,” Smith said.

Since learning that Leander school families had been impacted, people have rallying together, reminding Garrison of Braxton's "all in" attitude.

“He wasn’t just a student or teammate,” Garrison said. “He was a bright light in our halls, on the field and in our band family.”

The band has created a relief drive for Braxton’s family and is asking people to donate.