Mother seeking answers after former MBA football player dies

Courtesy of WSMV- A Nashville mother is mourning the loss of her beloved teenage son who had a promising future.

Brandon Key played football for Montgomery Bell Academy and went on to Morehouse College under academic and football scholarships.

Key's death has left his mother, Tomika Willingham-Minnis, with many unanswered questions.

Key, 19, died Saturday in Gallatin.

Gallatin police consider the death an apparent suicide, and believe Key hanged himself.

Willingham-Minnis said she is worried she may never know for sure, because no autopsy was done.

Because it was an apparent suicide, the District Attorney's office declined to order an autopsy.

Key's mother said she was told she could have the autopsy done privately, but only if she paid for it herself.

"I would have to foot the bill of the $3,500; so I'll never know what happened to my son, because the $3,500 was needed at that moment," she said.

Gallatin Police said their investigation concluded the death was a suicide and the TBI agreed.

His mother didn't press for a private autopsy and had his body prepared for burial.

She is remembering her son for his determination, faith and kindness.

"He had a loving heart. He was smart. He was involved in his community," Willingham-Minnis said.

Her son was fun-loving but competitive; an aspiring engineer who was active in church, helped the homeless, played chess, studied Shakespeare and had a bright future.

"I knew he was going to be the best. He had the very best in front of him. I know his life was going to be victorious and favored, because he loved the Lord," his mother said.

She's leaning on the love and support of Key's many friends and relatives who have reached out in her time of grief and uncertainty.

"Most of all, I'm just going to rely on God, keep trusting in God, because that's what Brandon would have wanted me to do. He would always tell me, 'Momma, it's going to be all right. It's going to be all right Momma, you just gotta keep praying,'" she said.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay burial expenses.

Visitation for Key will be held Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Greater Revelation Baptist Church, 1027 12th Avenue North. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m.

A reception will follow the funeral at Millennium Hall, 1307 Dickerson Pike, from 5 to 8 p.m. so the family can visit with friends.