The quiet streets of Mount Pleasant, Texas — once alive with the laughter of a bright 13-year-old — now pulse with sorrow. On December 7, 2025, Ava Claire Hageman, a seventh grader whose smile lit up hallways and whose kindness lifted spirits, passed away. Her family says she is now “with Jesus,” but her absence leaves a hole in the hearts of many.
Friends, classmates at Chapel Hill Junior High School and the wider Mount Pleasant junior high community, teachers and neighbors — all are stunned. They remember Ava as more than just a student — she was a friend, a little sister, a daughter, a bundle of joy who made people feel seen.
Those who knew her speak often of her outgoing spirit. She loved being outside — fishing, exploring, running cross-country, playing basketball and softball. She moved with ease among friends and family, always ready with a laugh or a gentle word.
In the face of such loss, her family has asked the community to remember Ava not with flowers — but with hope. Instead, they ask for donations toward a project close to her heart: the renewal of Dellwood Park and the building of a community pool in her honor — a place where children can gather, families can relax, and laughter can return.
A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, December 11, at 2:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant (2201 Hwy 49). Pall-bearers include family and close loved ones: Larry Bible, Jason Bell, Johnny Discher, Connor Tinkham, Carson Bell, and Dylan Brittain.
While the darkness of grief lingers now, there is already a growing wave of community compassion — messages of love, meals offered, embraces shared. People from all walks of life are coming together to lift up her family, to remind them they are not alone.
In a life that lasted only 13 years, Ava Claire managed to leave behind a luminous legacy — a spirit of kindness, a love for friends and nature, a readiness to make someone smile. The planned park renewal and pool stand to become more than a memorial: they might become a living tribute to what she gave to those around her — and a place where future generations in Mount Pleasant can discover the same joy she radiated.
May she rest in peace — and may her memory bring hope, connection, and healing to all who loved her.
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