Former High School Softball Star Dies Following Cancer Diagnosis

A Florida community is grieving the loss of Kennedy Waymer, a former high school softball standout and multi-sport athlete, who died at 19 after a battle with cancer, per PEOPLE.

Waymer was initially diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, in April 2024, just weeks before graduating from high school. Despite undergoing 19 rounds of chemotherapy and two lung surgeries, Waymer died on October 14, less than six months after her procedures.

Waymer graduated with a 4.6 GPA and earned a softball scholarship to the College of Coastal Georgia, where she was pursuing a pre-engineering degree.

“She was that happy-go-lucky kid, even when things weren’t going right for her; she’d always have a smile on her face,” Waymer's parents, Ron and Sandra, told First Coast News.

Waymer was admired by teammates, coaches, and classmates for her drive, leadership, and kindness.

“She was one of the most hard-working people I’ve ever met,” former basketball teammate Sharla Adams said. “She kept me on track… She was always that friend who got her work done early and made sure you did, too.”

Basketball coach Rod Carter echoed Adams' sentiment, saying, “She always rose to the occasion… She would get teammates to raise their level just by her example and her competitive nature.”

Waymer was diagnosed with cancer after experiencing weakness in her throwing arm during spring 2024, her former softball coach, Steve Brown, said. What initially appeared to be a minor issue turned out to be osteosarcoma.

Family and friends believed Waymer was making progress in her treatment, but last month, doctors informed her that the cancer had returned.

A celebration of life service for Waymer is scheduled for Saturday (October 25) in Jacksonville.

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