Stone County

Big crowd honors Landon Perry at candlelight vigil. ‘He was always there for me.’

Just four days after Landon Perry was killed in a car accident on his electric scooter, more than a hundred community members gathered on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston campus to honor him.

The vigil was organized as a joint effort between Perry’s parents and members of Venture Church, the ministry he had joined.

The vigil began with testimonies from friends of Perry who spoke about the impact he had on their lives and those around him.

Attendees pay their respects Thursday during a candlelight vigil for Landon Perry at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus in Perkinston.
Attendees pay their respects Thursday during a candlelight vigil for Landon Perry at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus in Perkinston. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com

For Kade Moody, one of Perry’s soccer teammates at D’Iberville High School, being friends with Landon “was probably the best thing to ever happen” to him.

“Any time I needed help, Landon was always there for me,” Moody said. “I will never forget those days.”

Following was the lighting of the vigil in which Perry’s parents, Amber and Josh, used their candles to pass on the flame to attendees at the vigil to represent the ripple effect Perry had on his community.

The ceremony ended with a eulogy given by Pastor Tyler Eggers, who got to know Perry through Venture Church.

Josh Perry bows his head during the vigil Thursday in Perkinston.
Josh Perry bows his head during the vigil Thursday in Perkinston. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com

“So there’s grief and there’s hurt and there’s pain, and the closer you were to Landon, the more of that you feel,” Eggers said. “So may the second thing this light represent be courage. Courage to walk into that hurt, courage to feel the pain, courage to remember the sweet memories—the memories that make you smile.”

For Eggers believes Perry will be remembered for his leadership in the community and his faith.

“Landon was a leader. He had a lot of people, older and younger, that looked up to him,” Eggers said. “He was a man who loved God and loved people.”

For Joshua Jones, a student pastor who worked with Perry at Venture Church, seeing the turnout for the vigil spoke to Perry’s impact on those around him.

Friends and family of Landon Perry honor his life Thursday in Perkinston.
Friends and family of Landon Perry honor his life Thursday in Perkinston. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com

“It shows you the light that he was in our lives,” Jones said. “It started off with his parents, Amber and Josh, to start lighting those candles, and for everyone’s candle to be lit it just shows you the type of person Landon was.”

Visitation for Perry’s funeral will be held on Saturday, November 22 from 10 a.m. to noon and the memorial service will be from noon to 1 p.m. at the Venture Church Stone County Campus.

Josh Perry, Landon Perry’s father, lights the candles of attendees Thursday.
Josh Perry, Landon Perry’s father, lights the candles of attendees Thursday. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com
Landon Perry’s soccer teammates gather honor their fallen teammate Thursday.
Landon Perry’s soccer teammates gather honor their fallen teammate Thursday. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com
Photos of Landon Perry sit next to a pair of his soccer cleats.
Photos of Landon Perry sit next to a pair of his soccer cleats. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com
Vigil attendees gather in front of a campus chapel.
Vigil attendees gather in front of a campus chapel. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com
Josh Perry, Landon Perry’s father, lights the candles of attendees.
Josh Perry, Landon Perry’s father, lights the candles of attendees. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com
Josh Perry lights candles for attendees.
Josh Perry lights candles for attendees. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com
Landon Perry’s teammates look at pictures from his childhood.
Landon Perry’s teammates look at pictures from his childhood. Jackson Ranger jranger@sunherald.com

This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 6:51 AM.

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