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STANFORD – A benefit was held Saturday to help raise money for the family of a local boy who passed away in July. 

Noah Singleton was a 17-year-old cowboy who loved guitars – something that hit closely for Brandon Edwards of Frazzell Guitars. 

When Noah tragically took his own life, Edwards said the news broke his heart. Edwards knew Noah’s mother, Amanda Flannery-Mills, as the two worked together at Walmart. When he heard the family was seeking donations to help cover funeral costs, he wanted to help. 

“She was always such a sweet lady,” he said. “I heard her son had committed suicide and I was heartbroken and I knew she was a sweet lady and having somebody like that having to go through that. She put a post on Facebook about not knowing how her and her ex-husband were going to financially pay, with her mom being in and out of the hospital and his family being in the hospital, so I decided to put together this benefit to help raise money for her and to try and honor this young man’s life, too.” 

Edwards said he was once a teenager in love with guitars like Noah. 

“He played guitar and I remember when I was his age I was really, really big into music and guitars,” he said. 

Not only did Edwards want to honor Noah and his family, but he wanted to show young people how important it is for the community to come together to help families in need. 

It’s tough for teenagers, he said, and bullying hasn’t gotten any better from when he was in school. 

“I wanted to show younger people that ‘Hey, when someone is in need in our community, we step up.’ I’m hoping that gets passed down. Some of these young kids aren’t taught things they need to be taught,” he said. “We need to teach these younger kids that we’re supposed to come together as a community…now they don’t. Everyone’s involved in their phones and social media, everything else, and it’s really tough.” 

The benefit was able to raise a little over $1,000 for the family. The event included live music from Brad Hardin, Tim Readnor, Sammy Marsee, and the Jaidon Smith Revue, as well as local vendors and food trucks. 

Noah’s mother, Amanda Flannery-Mills, said she wanted to thank Edwards and everyone who attended. Noah’s family was set up Saturday with suicide prevention and awareness information. 

“I would like to say thank you to Brandon Edwards of Frazzel Guitars, and everyone who came out to support, volunteer, sing, donate, set up, or just come out to honor my cowboy on Saturday,” she said. “Also, to thank the City of Stanford, Mayor Dalton Miller and Police Chief Zach Middleton for their help in making this happen. Noah was loved by more people than he ever could have imagined, and he has left a huge hole in our hearts that will never be filled. He was one of a kind. Our lives will never be the same.”

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.