Yesterday, former Indiana and Southern Mississippi guard Neil Reed died after heart complications at just 36 years old. Below, Reed’s childhood friend David Hill remembers a different side of the man.

My papaw sang in the Stamps Baxter Quartet, a group that belongs to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. His group sang with a lot of talented singers through the years, one of whom was Floyd Hunter. Floyd could sing quite a bit and they often sang together at Mt. Tabor church in Glenwood, Arkansas. Floyd ended up writing and composing his own gospel songs, eventually becoming a singing teacher. Floyd and my papaw, Norman, remained friends. Floyd's sister had a son named Terry the same year my mom was born. The two of them graduated high school together and were lifelong friends.