MGCCC mourns Landon Perry

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is mourning the loss of one of its student-athletes, who was killed in an accident Sunday afternoon.  Men's soccer player Landon Perry was an 18-year-old freshman from D'Iberville and a valued member of the Bulldog family.

"Landon's been family before he ever stepped foot on campus," Gulf Coast men's soccer coach Chris Handy said. "He's a person who would speak his discipline through his faith, his play on the field, his education. He was a person who 100 percent wanted to be the very best person and player he possibly could be. I know how much his teammates loved him. I know how much his family loved him. I know the coaches loved him. He was always striving to set a good example, not just for his teammates, but for his little brother and his little brother's friends. He's family."

Handy had coached Perry at the club soccer level for about four years before he played this year at Perk.

Counselors will be available for Perry's fellow players, his coaches and staff members.

"Our MGCCC family is grieving the loss of a bright young life," said Dr. Mary S. Graham, the president of MGCCC. "We hold the student's loved ones close in our thoughts and remain committed to supporting our students and employees during this difficult time."

Services for Perry will be held Saturday at Venture Church in Wiggins. Visitation will start at 10 a.m., with the services beginning at noon.

"Our prayers go out to the Perry family," athletic director Steven Campbell said. "Landon was an outstanding young man, and he will always be a cherished member of the Gulf Coast family."

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.