Coach Julio Borge works for the Tropics professional soccer league here in Lakeland but finds the time to coach our Varsity Girls too. Julio is joined by Delille Edoizin. This staff does a tremendous job of mentoring our young ladies.
https://www.vcaonline.org/athletics/soccer
It is the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Delille Edoizin (Coach De), and VCA has not changed its website. Why?
Delille was an employee of VCA & Victory Church. He was also a Correctional Probation Specialist Officer and part of the Security Team at Victory. He loved soccer, was a coach at VCA and was inducted into a hall of fame for soccer in 1993.
https://fredoniabluedevils.com/honors/hall-of-fame/dellile-edozin/28
Victory Church had a memorial service on May 22, 2021; a few hours after the VCA 2021 Graduation. The day was extremely emotional for many reasons.
On that tragic day, one year ago, VCA students & parents were told that Coach De had a “heart attack”.
At the memorial service, it was mentioned that he was “covid positive” a few weeks before his death. The church board was told the same thing by Pastor Blackburn.
The truth is that he COMMITTED SUICIDE with his gun which was revealed on Facebook by a family member with the hashtags #Suicideisreal #Suicidesucks. The truth cannot stay hidden.
The idea of “choice” is one of the most misunderstood when it comes to the matter of suicide, as though those who take their own lives selfishly and consciously “chose” to hurt their loved ones by the act. Those who think that the choice to commit suicide is cowardly or selfish need to understand the depths of despair that would lead someone down the path of choosing to end their own life. Rather, many of those who commit suicide feel as though they’re a burden on their families and others—that the world would be better off without them.
To this day, no one knows why he made this permanent decision to a temporary problem. The lies that the school and church have told about his death are unacceptable.
Suicide cannot be kept a secret, no matter what the reason. We are to be honest and be there for those in need.
If anyone reading this article is contemplating suicide, know that it is not the answer. Find a friend or a loved one and speak to them. Find a trusted counselor. Confide in your family for help. You are never alone! God is with you and He does not want you to end your life! Your life matters!
For those who do not believe this article and are in shock, ask the Pastors and Staff at Victory Church & VCA. They are the ones who lied about the suicide the day it happened and have never spoken of it since.
Extremely sad. I knew the truth. So glad the truth has been finally written. Too many students grieving and cannot talk about it at school and church! Expose them for lying!
Our hearts go out to the family. No one knows why De committed suicide and now we can help prevent another one and talk about his death. I love how the writer is talking to anyone with that thought. Suicide is a permanent decision to a temporary problem!
My child heard about the suicide and we were in disbelief because the church and school said heart attack. My child had no one at school to walk with them through this tragic death. It was very irresponsible. Thank God my child can talk to us. We walked through it together. It was extremely sad, and always will be. Suicide needs to be talked about.
Never stop praying for this family! The nightmare that they experienced is devastating. If the church lied to everyone, did they even help this family? If the church lied, did they even see any signs of suicide? I would venture to say NO. Being on the job has its toll too.
Suicide is never the answer. It compounds problems and the lasting effects to the family are irreversible. Suicide was a cry for help that no one saw coming. Coach De looked like a picture of a perfect life, but he obviously was hurting. It is OK to say suicide, because you have no clue who is struggling. Social media paints perfect pictures which is deceitful. When the truth is told, it is a good thing because now we can help this family heal with the terrible loss and grief. Suicide needs to be talked about.
https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2022/04/28/what-to-tell-children-of-a-loved-ones-suicide%ef%bf%bc/
This is a wonderful article that applies to this article.
https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2022/04/28/what-to-tell-children-of-a-loved-ones-suicide%ef%bf%bc/
I am an avid reader of the Lakeland Gazette and feel that most all of the articles are fair and balanced stating facts. I do not know anyone at this Victory Church or school. I can say that it is very sad to see anyone commit suicide especially a fellow LEO. I am in no way offended or upset by this article as I have researched the facts. Maybe this could help someone in need facing the same demon. I strongly suggest to all of your readers and those making comments out of anger to read the articles, fact check and do not bash any person for being honest, especially this online news company. Honesty is the way we all need to live out our lives. Sometimes the truth hurts but the truth always remains the truth and the lies are what takes you down. Appears that the negative responses is coming from a Christian School and Church folks. I am wondering what they are teaching at these 2 organizations because the Bible that I read says do not lie, it is a sin. A sin is a sin no matter how big or how small. It is all the same in God’s eyes. For what it is worth communities need to come together in truth while maintaining the highest level of integrity no matter how difficult it may be for some. As parents we should be teaching our children right from wrong on every level to insure they live a Godly, righteous and prosperous lives filled with God, love, truth and happiness. Secrets have been the fall of many churches in this area and around the globe. Is the secrets going to become Victory’s downfall as it was for Carpenters and others?
Amen. This was eloquent and truthful! Thank you!
I agree with LEO 100%. It is sad to know that Victory Parents are posting things on social media (Instagram) telling the VCA kids to leave a 1 star review on Google and Facebook for the Lakeland Gazette. The reason is this: “Let’s preserve Coach De and what he meant to all of you. (Don’t post hate, just the facts. And don’t forget to share this with all of your friends).” Is this parent for real? The article does not speak any hate towards the Coach. It is factual and the truth. Parents like this are why these students lie and why they are rebellious. They learn from their parents and teachers and pastors who lie and hide the truth for no reason.