Last Thursday, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed a bill to honor the late Peyton Flowers.

The bill will name a stretch of Highway 550 in his memory.

Sen. Sally Doty (R-Brookhaven) said the Senate has not taken up any bills from the house yet, but she does not foresee there being a problem getting it passed.

“It’s great that we can honor Peyton in this way,” Doty said. “He just had such an impact on, not only the students, but also the community.”

Doty said she will help shepherd the bill through the Senate.

On Oct. 31, Flowers, a football player at Loyd Star Attendance Center, asked his coach if he could take a break during Loyd Star’s homecoming game. Flowers collapsed while sitting on the bench and was airlifted to Jackson Friday night.

Flowers died on Nov. 6 after an almost week-long stay at University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The bill was born out of the efforts of Rep. Bobby Moak (R-Bogue Chitto) and Rep. Becky Currie (R-Brookhaven). Both Moak and Currie had received calls about honoring Flowers and felt that it was important to the community.

Originally, the bill proposed changing the speed limit to 42, Flowers’s football number. However, federal guidelines prohibit it. The legislators decided to adapt it. Moak and Currie believe by installing a sign, the intent of the original bill will still be intact.

Moak met with the Lincoln County Supervisors on Feb. 2 to have a resolution passed to honor Flowers as part of the process.

While Flowers was hospitalized, people across the community, state and nation came together in an effort to pray for Flowers and his family.