ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Hundreds of riders gathered at Norris Dam Saturday to honor James Pruitt Jr., known to friends and family as Junebug, who recently died in a motorcycle crash on Feb. 17.
Nearly 300 community members attended the ride, organized by Junebug’s lifelong friend Seth Freels. Attendees purchased T-shirts and bandanas, signed a cross and shared memories of Pruitt.
He was 21 years old at the time of his death. His fiancée, Sara Hammitt, said the two had been together for six years.
“He was so happy. Full of energy,” Hammitt said.
Hammitt added Pruitt had purchased an engagement ring approximately one week before he died.
“We’re actually engaged, he just, of course, got out of asking me,” she said.
Freels said he put the event together because he felt Pruitt deserved to be remembered.
“I think everybody deserves this — anybody that, you know, gets in a crash or anything like that. I think everybody deserves this,” Freels said.
Freels also noted a renewed message around motorcycle safety.
“There’s incidents just today — I mean, just coming here — that people, you know, could have lost their life,” he said.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office escorted riders during the event.
Hammitt said the turnout was larger than she expected.
“I knew, I knew he was loved and…but not this much,” she said.
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