By Holly Rodriguez

Tyreil Mayo and Gregory Jones both share a drive to succeed — a trait commonly found in top-performing students.

But the 18-year-old John Marshall High School students, who marched across the stage Wednesday at the Altria Theater and received their diplomas, also share a passion for helping others and a strong commitment to their community.

The powerful combination of dedication and academics helped propel the pair to their place in John Marshall history.

Tyreil, the school’s 2017 valedictorian, and Gregory, this year’s salutatorian, are the first African-American males to graduate in the top two spots at John Marshall in more than 25 years.

“I’m really proud — not just of me, but of (Gregory) also,” Tyreil said in a phone interview with the Free Press.

Both received high praise and accolades from their teachers, coaches, guidance counselor and fellow students, some of whom they have tutored during the past four years.

“I feel like we all started out together, and if they excel, we all excel,” Gregory said.

Tyreil graduated with a 4.23 GPA, earning more than $250,000 in scholarships. Among his many offers was a full scholarship to Virginia State University, where he will enroll in the fall. He plans to major in computer engineering.

Gregory graduated a close second, with a 4.19 GPA. He earned a full academic and basketball scholarship to attend James Madison University in Harrisonburg. Last Sunday, even before John Marshall’s official commencement ceremony, he was packing his bags and headed to a summer school class at JMU, where he will major in mechanical engineering.

“They really are gentlemen,” said Portia James, a guidance counselor at John Marshall High who worked with Tyreil and Gregory.

“They are so well-rounded as people. Academics are wonderful, but you have to know who you are as a person, and they really do.”

Tyreil said he entered his freshman year ranked No. 4 in the class. He maintained straight A’s his entire high school career, taking a course load that included four Advanced Placement subjects this year — all while working part time for a fast food restaurant. He was promoted to team leader at the restaurant in 2016.

The recipient of several awards, Tyreil also was a member of the school’s Art Club and the Drama Club, volunteered as a tutor and was a member of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.

Although he describes himself as a “more academically oriented” student, he also played soccer and baseball.

“I’m amazed that Tyreil could manage such a full schedule,” Ms. James said. “He’s certainly not your typical bookworm. He’s more of an all-around scholar.”

Gregory would not mind being thought of as the Bo Jackson of John Marshall, referring to the African-American Heisman Trophy winner who went on to achieve iconic status in pro football and major league baseball in the mid-1980s and 1990s.

While Mr. Jackson played only two sports, Gregory played on the Justices’ baseball team, as well as on the basketball, volleyball and tennis teams.

While managing his own AP course load, Gregory also served on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, tutored classmates and led a food drive for families in need and another drive to help the homeless.

Ms. James said Gregory’s positive vibe is contagious.

“If you spend two minutes with Greg, no matter how your day is going, you feel like you have had a brand new day,” Ms. James said.

When asked how he stayed motivated, Gregory’s answer was simple. “My mom said she wouldn’t let me play basketball if I didn’t keep my grades up,” he said with a laugh. “She was on top of it.”

Tyreil admitted that staying focused on schoolwork was not always easy for him.

“It’s hard to take a full AP course load and watch my friends take just a couple,” he said, adding that he did find time to spend with friends.

Even with balancing school and a social life, Tyreil and Gregory helped contribute to other students’ academic success by tutoring.

“I did tutoring and got paid, but also personally helped people who asked for my help,” Tyreil said. They were mostly ninth graders and 12th-graders, he noted.

Ms. James said both students are true leaders. They did not tolerate any kind of bullying and were always encouraging others.

“They are good guys,” she said. “They care about other people and they help without being asked. They were always willing to make sure everyone had what they needed.”

This summer, Tyreil will work full time at the restaurant. While he said he hasn’t settled on a specific career aspiration just yet, he is looking forward to the freedom of creating his own schedule and getting involved in different organizations at VSU.

Gregory, who is living and studying this summer at JMU, said his dream is to play in the NBA. He’s a Los Angeles Lakers fan.

“But my mom says you always have to have a backup plan,” he said.

His Plan B?

To start his own business as a mechanical engineer, focused on the residential construction sector.

By Holly Rodriguez

Ketron R. Wells was a playful 16-year-old who loved to play basketball and video games, according to his brother, Kevon Harvey.

Christian K. Singleton was a 15-year-old fan of television’s British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and wanted to be a professional chef when he grew up.

Ketron’s life and Christian’s dreams were cut short last week when they where shot and killed on Richmond’s South Side.

Mr. Harvey, who said the family was split up following their mother’s death four year ago, said he last saw his brother about two weeks ago, but they spoke nearly every day. When they last talked, Ketron said he was doing well, Mr. Harvey said.

“Ketron was good. He was a student at Armstrong High School.”

While Samantha Singleton, Christian’s aunt, said he was home schooled, officials said he was a student at Richmond Alternative School, which is part of the city’s public school system and provides educational and behavioral support to students who are at risk of dropping out, being expelled or failing.

Ms. Singleton said she last spoke with Christian the day he was killed.

“It was just like any other normal day,” she said.

Police officers received reports of gunfire about 9:53 p.m. Wednesday, June 7. When police arrived, they found the bodies of the boys lying near each other in the 3600 block of Decatur Street. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The boys’ deaths are the second double homicide of teens this year. In late March, Taliek K. Brown, 15, and Mikkaisha D. Smoot, 16, were fatally shot in the 1900 block of Accommodation Street in Mosby Court.

In a statement, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said, “The only way we can bring some measure of comfort to them is to catch the killers. In both cases, our detectives need tips from the public to solve these crimes. Staying silent is no longer an option.”

Nearly 100 people gathered at a vigil last Sunday held in the 4000 block of Decatur Street. Friends and family of Christian wore T-shirts bearing his picture. The funereal mood was intensified by the hot weather as teens, families and friends consoled one another. Several people spoke, including Deputy Police Chief Steve Drew, Mr. Harvey and Caroline Johnson, president of the McGuire Civic Association.

Ms. Johnson encouraged anyone with information to step forward and help the police.

“Come out of the shadows. Make a difference. This is your neighborhood. Take it back,” she said.

She also discouraged people from resorting to any retaliatory action.

“If you go out here and ‘get’ somebody, is it really worth your life to be sitting in jail?” she said.

The event ended with the release of balloons in the boys’ honor.

“My brother was loved by a lot of people and we want justice for him and for Christian,” Mr. Harvey said. “The family — we’re just heartbroken because we just can’t believe that he’s gone.”

Mr. Harvey, 19, said he practically raised his four younger siblings including Ketron. When their mother died in 2013 of lung cancer, her expressed desire that all five children be raised together was not granted, he said. He lives in Caroline County with his grandmother, while the youngest children, twins, now live in Arlington. He said he is not sure where his 14-year-old sibling lives. And Ketron was living with a friend prior to his death.

“He loved basketball, loved playing video games and hanging around his friends,” Mr. Harvey said. “I’m going to miss talking to him.”

Christian also enjoyed video games, Ms. Singleton said, and playing with his cousins and friends.

She said the two of them spent a lot of time together. “He called me ‘mom,’ ” she said.

“He was so loving, had a smile out of this world,” Ms. Singleton said. “To know him was to love him. I don’t know anybody who didn’t love him.”

Mimms Funeral Home is managing arrangements for both boys. Christian’s funeral will be 1 p.m. Thursday, June 15, while a service for Ketron will be noon Saturday, June 17. Both will take place at the funeral home, 1827 Hull St. in South Side.