"If you had seen the processional coming down out of Marshallville today, you would've thought the President of the United States had passed," said Donnell's tennis coach at FVSU, Willie Foster. "That's how impactful he was."
Marshallville native and Fort Valley State University freshman, Donnell Phelps, was remembered Wednesday by loved ones.
His funeral was held at the Pettigrew Center at FVSU.
"He impacted this campus in such a tremendous, positive way," Foster said.
Family, friends, classmates, and teachers spoke and sang their love for Donnell and the impact he had on their lives.
"Donnell was a gift from God," Foster said.
Donnell was stabbed to death on Fort Valley's campus just last week.
"First thing that came to my mind was, who was he trying to help," Donnell's uncle, Charles McGhee said.
His uncle says Donnell always did the right thing.
"His heart was so pure, he didn't even see the danger," McGhee said. "I think the Christians call it walking by faith."
Friend of Donnell and FVSU freshman class president, Idalis Forte, says Donnell always wore a smile.
"If you didn't even know him, you knew of him," Forte said. "Because he made sure he would speak, he made sure that he would make you feel welcome and like you were important."
And one of Donnell's former teachers and all others that spoke say Donnell will always be remembered.
"He wasn't just a hero that day, he was a hero every day," said Charles Ivey, Donnell's high school teacher.
At the service, it was announced that Fort Valley State University declared May 11th Donnell Phelps Memorial Day.