From the roads of Dublin and Dexter and Laurens County – including the old West Laurens football stadium by I-16 - throughout Central Georgia to Super Bowl winners and Hall of Famers and GOATs and outside of football, Atlanta to Denver to Houston and beyond, millions awoke Friday to the devastating news that 33-year-old Demaryius Thomas – Bay Bay to thousands of Raiders and Irish and Falcons and Yellow Jackets, among others – was found dead in his home in Roswell late Thursday night.

          Two weeks and two days before his 34th birthday

          He graduated from West Laurens, went to Georgia Tech and stayed despite a coaching change that put him in a run-oriented offense, and went on to a superb NFL career in Denver, ending his career seemingly premature with stops in Houston, New England, and New York.

          While the rivalries in Laurens County are serious, Thomas was all about Laurens County, to the point of sitting on the bench for the Dublin boys basketball team in a playoff game at Georgia College a few years ago.

          His family story became national in 2016. His mother and grandmother were arrested when he was 11 for running a drug ring. They were among those pardoned by President Obama. She had never seen him play a football game live, and was released in time for the divisional playoffs. Denver won 23-16, and Peyton Manning gave Thomas the game ball to give to his mom Katina.

          The tributes are vast and many, going beyond the big plays and big smiles. Get the Kleenex box.