Hundreds gathered Friday night to honor a legend larger than life who helped transform their very own lives.

A celebration of Coach John Beam at Oakland’s Everett and Jones restaurant was put on by his former players and students from Skyline High School.

“It’s a testament to Oakland that he is synonymous; if you say his name, it resonates in Oakland, but it certainly transcends Oakland and the walls of this place,” said Rodney Campbell, Former Skyline High School Football Player.

MORE: Family of Coach John Beam releases statement: ‘We are deeply grateful to the Oakland community’

Beam was shot and killed last month on campus at Laney College, where he spent the last 20 years of his career.

“I felt like we needed a place as a family, as the Skyline Titans, to come together and give each other hugs, tell each other we love each other, and everything’s going to be alright,” said Johnnie Dempsey, a former Skyline High School Football player.

“God is working through the spirit, look his wife even showing up here for us, and a lot of people I haven’t seen in 20 years are showing up for a legendary man, somebody that impacted the world,” said Yonus Davis, a former Skyline High School Football player.

Beam’s wife was embraced, surrounded by family, former players, and students.

“He was very persistent with the children he came in contact with, and he grew a bond with, and that was mostly everybody,” said Mary Holly, a former Skyline High School student.

“It really hurts to be here tonight, but in honor of him, we all showed up and showed out because if you played for Beam, he was with you until the end,” said Kevin Parker, a former Skyline Football player.

A Memorial Walk and Tribute will also be held on Wednesday, December 10, where people will meet on the Laney College campus and walk together to the football field in Beam’s honor.

The Beam family is also organizing a celebration of life on January 10, but are still finalizing details.

The family has set up the Coach Beam Legacy Foundation together with AthLife, which has a longstanding partnership with the Beam family.

The public is welcome to write tributes to Coach Beam at the Oakland Public Library. The library is collecting the tributes in notebooks they plan to eventually give to the Beam family.

The 27-year-old accused of killing Beam is due back in court on December 16 when he’s expected to enter a plea.

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