In death, Jacob Hall's reach grows

Jacob Hall told his family that every night while others were sleeping, he was out saving Townville.

He knew all about Clark Kent, the fictional, mild-mannered reporter who could shed his glasses at a moment's notice and become Superman. Jacob wore glasses himself, so Clark Kent was one his favorite ordinary guys-turned-superheroes, his great aunt, Rebecca Hunnicutt, said.

Jacob could give a crash course on Batman at a moment's notice. And he knew the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as though they were his friends, especially after the characters showed up at one of his birthday parties.

He even invented Cat Boy, his imagined alter ego.

"That's who saved the town every night when Jacob went to bed," said Jacob's uncle, Johnny Bridges.

Jacob, who was 6, was one of the students shot Sept. 28 at Townville Elementary School. On Saturday, he died of his injuries.

Even in the midst of their heartbreak, Jacob's family now believes his life served a purpose greater than they could have imagined.

"He always wanted to be a superhero," Hunnicutt said. "Until we stand before God, we will not know why he was taken from us. But I have to believe that Jacob's life will send a message about how important it is to love and protect our children, whether they are white, black, green, Hispanic or Asian. Now, Jacob isn't just saving Townville. He's doing things for the world."

A teenager stands accused in Jacob's death.

Jesse Osborne, 14, is accused of first killing his father, 47-year-old Jeffrey Osborne, then heading toward the elementary school. Investigators say he opened fire as some students were going out to, and coming in from, the playground. Besides Jacob, another 6-year-old student and a first-grade teacher were shot. Another student who was not shot suffered minor injuries.

Hunnicutt said her family is praying for the Osborne family even as they pray for strength themselves.

"I'm sure that boy's mother has some of the same 'Why?' questions that we do," Hunnicutt said."On this earth, there are no good answers."

On Monday evening,  friends and loved ones gathered at Oakdale Baptist Church for a visitation of Jacob's family.  Many in the crowd were dressed as superheroes. A company in West Virginia sent a Batmobile to the church, free of charge.

"We want to honor Jacob, celebrate Jacob, in a way he would love," Hunnicutt said.

Jacob's fascination with superheroes was more than the idle chatter of a child, his aunt said.

Jacob was born after doctors told his mother she probably would not have any more children. He came into the world six weeks early. His aunt said Jacob had some health struggles, residual effects of his premature birth. He was always smaller than his classmates. He battled asthma and an eye problem.

Even so, he always checked on his younger sister Zoey, who is a 4K student  at Townville Elementary, Hunnicutt said.

Zoey now tells people: "My bubba's with Jesus."

"Jacob's body wouldn't allow him to do some of the things he wanted to do," Hunnicutt said. "I think the reason he loved superheroes is that he knew they weren't just bound by their ordinary bodies.

"Now, Jacob isn't bound by his body either," Hunnicutt said. "And, as heartbroken as we all are, I feel better knowing Jacob is in Heaven watching over me."

Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NikieMayo