Gary ‘Landyn' Jacobs, 17, was driving to work at 4am on Thursday, when he slammed into a tree on Canal Cove Road in Lake Waccamaw and was pronounced dead

Jacobs recently won the Most Valuable Player Award in the eastern tournament

He was also a member of the Riegelwood team that won the Dixie Youth Baseball Division II Majors Dixie World Series in 2021.

Despite being smaller in stature than some of the other players, North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball District II Director Frankie Burney said he remembered Jacobs as a ‘scrappy little fella' who worked hard and respected his elders.

Outside of baseball, Simmons said Jacobs enjoyed riding four-wheelers.

‘They put snorkels on their four-wheelers and they go into ponds with them and they loved it,' he recounted, adding that the family is ‘going to be there' for Jacobs' parents, Greg and Heather.

‘We are all about family, and if one of us hurts, all of us hurt. We got each other back, and we are going to be there for each other, his Momma and Daddy, Aunt. We are so supportive, the community members are really supportive,' he noted.

More than 300 community members showed up on Saturday to attend a candlelight vigil for the teenager, where they lit candles spelling out his name and shared their memories of the fun-loving baseball player.

‘He always kept somebody laughing, always,' relative Margaret Jacobs shared. ‘He was so humble.'

Another relative, Brandi Jacobs, said she will miss Jacobs' ‘loving hugs that he would give you and just that look that he would give, just to know he loved you.

‘Regardless if he didn't say anything to you, you still know that you were loved by him when you were in his presence.'

East Columbus Junior-Senior High School baseball coach Brad Smith also described to The News Reporter how Jacobs had a ‘happy outlook' on life and was ‘always a pleasure to be around and talk to on the field and off the field.'

Similarly, retired teacher Fuller Royal said that from Jacobs' first day as a freshman in his English class, he remembered the teenager as ‘always friendly. Always cordial. Always good humored and even tempered.

‘He was the same way every time you saw him,' Royal wrote on social media.

‘I know his family, friends and the community and the school will hurt a long time with the loss of this kind, hard-working, baseball-loving fellow,' he continued, adding that he is ‘fortunate  to have had the chance to teach him, to know him and to be friends with him.'

The Night That Changed Lake Waccamaw: A Mother’s Cry and a Community’s Loss

In the pre-dawn stillness of August 14, 2025, the quiet town of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, was shattered by a tragedy that would leave an enduring mark on its close-knit community. At 4 a.m., 17-year-old Gary “Landyn” Jacobs, a beloved high school senior and baseball star, left his home on Canal Cove Road, heading to work at his family’s logging business in the Green Swamp Preserve. Known for his striking blue eyes, infectious humor, and dedication to his family and sport, Landyn was a young man with dreams as big as the Carolina sky. But what unfolded in the hours that followed would leave his family, particularly his mother, Heather Creech Jacobs, grappling with a devastating loss—and a chilling moment that neighbors would never forget.

A Mother’s Heartbreak

Heather Jacobs was no stranger to the early mornings her son kept. Landyn, a rising senior at East Columbus High School, was a hard worker, often rising before dawn to join his father, Greg Randal Jacobs, and brother in the family’s logging business. That morning, like many others, he slipped out quietly, his truck humming softly as he drove into the darkness. Heather, accustomed to his routine, was likely asleep when he left, unaware that it would be the last time she’d see her son alive.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., Heather’s phone rang, piercing the silence of her home. It was a call no parent ever expects—a call from authorities informing her that Landyn had been in a car accident on Canal Cove Road. His truck had veered off the road and collided with a tree, and despite the efforts of Lake Waccamaw EMS, he had succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The news hit Heather like a tidal wave, and what followed was a sound that neighbors described as unforgettable: a raw, guttural cry of anguish that echoed through the quiet street, a mother’s heart breaking in real-time.

“She just screamed,” said a neighbor, who requested anonymity out of respect for the family. “It wasn’t just a cry—it was like her soul was being ripped out. I’ll never unhear it.” Heather’s words, though not fully recounted in public reports, were said to reveal a chilling truth about that night: she had sensed something was wrong when Landyn left, a mother’s intuition that lingered in her mind but went unheeded until it was too late. “I should’ve stopped him,” she reportedly said, her voice trembling with guilt and grief. “I felt it in my gut, but I let him go.”

The Accident and Its Aftermath

The details of Landyn’s accident remain under investigation by the Lake Waccamaw Police Department, with no official cause yet released. The crash occurred on a rural stretch of Canal Cove Road, a familiar route for Landyn, who was heading to meet his logging crew. The early morning darkness, possibly coupled with fatigue or an unforeseen obstacle, may have contributed to the tragedy, but speculation has been kept minimal out of respect for the family’s grief.

When police and emergency responders arrived, they found Landyn’s truck severely damaged, wrapped around a tree. Forcing open the door revealed a heart-wrenching sight: Landyn’s baseball glove, a worn symbol of his passion, lay on the passenger seat. For the responders, it was a moment that froze time—a tangible reminder of the vibrant young man whose life had been cut short. Landyn, a standout second baseman who had recently earned the Most Valuable Player Award in an eastern tournament, was more than an athlete; he was a son, a brother, and a friend whose presence lit up every room.

A Community United in Grief

The sound of Heather’s cry wasn’t the only thing that pierced the silence that morning. Word of Landyn’s death spread quickly, amplified by social media posts from friends, teammates, and teachers. East Columbus High School, where Landyn was a beloved figure, shared a poignant message on Facebook: “Gator family and community, please keep the Jacobs family and our school in your thoughts as we have lost our beloved Landyn Jacobs. Always remember we are better together!” The post captured the collective heartbreak of a community that saw Landyn as one of its brightest stars.

On August 16, over 300 people gathered at 90 Bald Cypress Circle for a candlelight vigil to honor Landyn. The event, held at Elizabeth Brinkley Park, was a testament to his impact. Family members, including his uncle Josh Simmons, shared memories of Landyn’s infectious laughter and his love for baseball and four-wheeling. “He was a go-getter, a clown on the baseball field that made everybody laugh,” Simmons told WECT. “He was a gem at second base.” Another relative, Brandi Jacobs, spoke of his “loving hugs” and the unspoken love conveyed through his blue eyes, a feature that seemed to define him in the hearts of those who knew him.

A Mother’s Words and a Lasting Echo

Heather’s words in the wake of the tragedy carried a weight that resonated beyond her immediate grief. While the exact phrasing remains private, those close to the family noted that she spoke of Landyn’s determination to work that morning, his eagerness to contribute to the family business, and her regret for not acting on her intuition. “She kept saying she felt something was off,” a family friend shared. “It’s like she knew, deep down, that something wasn’t right.” This chilling realization added a layer of heartbreak to an already unbearable loss, as Heather wrestled with the what-ifs that haunt any parent in such circumstances.

The community rallied around Heather, Greg, and their children—Timber, Garret, Kendal, and Tyler—as they navigated their grief. A visitation was held on August 19 at Peacock Funeral Home in Whiteville, followed by a funeral service on August 20 at East Columbus High School’s auditorium, where Landyn was laid to rest at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Bolton. The outpouring of support, from flowers to online condolences, underscored the love for Landyn and the strength of the community he called home.

A Legacy of Love and Resilience

Landyn’s life, though brief, was marked by a zest for living that left an indelible mark. A member of the Riegelwood team that won the Dixie Youth Baseball Division II Majors Dixie World Series in 2021, he was remembered as a “scrappy little fella” by Frankie Burney, North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball District II Director. His love for adventure extended beyond the field, with stories of riding four-wheelers through ponds bringing smiles to those who shared them. But it was his role as a son and brother that defined him most, and it is through his family’s memories that his legacy endures.

Heather’s cry that morning, and the words that followed, will remain etched in the minds of those who heard them. They spoke not only of loss but of a mother’s love, a love so deep it sensed danger in the quiet of the night. As Lake Waccamaw moves forward, the community holds tight to Landyn’s memory, honoring a young man whose blue eyes and bright spirit will never be forgotten.

Sources: WECT, Daily Mail, Columbus County News, Peacock Funeral Home