Eighth-grader remembered for ‘unforgettable smile’ dies of COVID, Oklahoma school says

With dreams of playing football this fall for his middle school, 13-year-old Clarence Johnson III spent the beginning of the school year hospitalized with COVID-19.

Within a week of his hospitalization, the middle schooler known for his bright smile and happy personality died after his battle with the virus, according to his Oklahoma school district.

A post by the Oklahoma City Public Schools Native American Student Services said Clarence, who was known as Tre, was loved “for his beautiful soul and unforgettable smile.” He was going to be a student at Mary Golda Ross Middle School this year, The Oklahoman reported.

Tre was among the rising cases of COVID-19 among children throughout the United States. While deaths remain rare, children represent 14.6% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to an Aug. 19 report by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

There have been four children who have died from COVID-19 in Oklahoma since the pandemic began, KOCO reported.

Tre also battled pneumonia during his COVID-19 fight and spent five days on a ventilator, family members told KFOR.

“He was a happy kid, always happy. Always listening to music. He was just so friendly,” his mother, Kendra Johnson, told the TV station.

A woman who taught Tre in fourth grade said she will remember his humor and smile.

His mother said the family all tested positive for the virus weeks ago and Tre had to be taken to a hospital by an ambulance when he had trouble breathing, according to KOCO.

“He was a pretty big boy and I was scared that if he caught it something like this would happen. You know we did the best we could, you know, trying to lose weight,” she said. “It can happen to anybody, you know, I mean it really can.”

A post from Tre’s parents on GoFundMe said the 13-year-old planned to play football this season and had a love for “music, food, video games, animals, social media, and of course his friends and family.”

This story was originally published August 27, 2021 at 6:42 AM with the headline "Eighth-grader remembered for ‘unforgettable smile’ dies of COVID, Oklahoma school says."