Peyton Christian Rivera

On August 31st, 17-year-old Peyton Christian Rivera unexpectedly passed after being involved in an automobile accident. Peyton was a son, grandson, brother and friend to many!  Peyton is survived by his mother, Michelle Austin, father and stepmother, Johnny and Jennifer Rivera, two brothers, Jaxson and Lawson Rivera, one sister, Emma Rivera, (Nanmaw) Joyce Gilliam (Grammie) Vickie Gilliam, (Nana) Becky Rivera, (Pawpaw) John and Calli Rivera, (Grandaddy) Tim and (Nana) Wendy White and (Mawmaw) Kimberly Gordon, Uncle Nick Austin and family, Uncle Josh Rivera and family, Aunt Janelle Hunt and family, Aunt Haley Bogden and family, Aunt Alyssa Rivera, and many cousins, extended family and friends that have became family.

Peyton was born in Griffin and grew up mainly in Locust Grove before his family settled in Pike County.  Peyton loved life and loved big!  When Peyton was a young 2-year-old, he loved dancing to the Johnny Cash song, "I'm going to Jackson," so he was quite the dancer!  He also liked eating the icing off of cupcakes and his sister, Emma, would eat the rest.  Peyton loved riding motorcycles with his brother Jaxson, and they always came home filled with dirt!  Peyton taught his youngest brother, Lawson (aka Bean) everything there is to know about sports.  Peyton was Bean's role model and idol! Peyton's favorite food was spaghetti, and he would request it at every family function.  He was a jokester and always loved making people laugh! Peyton loved his mother Michelle, with whom he shared a special bond. One of Peyton's favorite things was calling his dad "Old Man", just to pick at him. Peyton was a student athlete at Pike County High School and was #7 on the football field and played just about every position on the field.  He and his teammates had a special relationship on and off the field and Peyton always looked forward to those Friday night lights!

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 7th, 2024 at 2 pm at Christ Chapel Community Church, 68 Old Zebulon Road, Zebulon, GA.

Friends may visit with the family on Saturday from 12 pm to 2 pm at the church.  It is requested that his teammates all wear their jerseys in support of Peyton as well as the Pike County Pirates.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers, any donations be made in Peyton's honor to benefit the Pirate Touch Down Club at the Pike County High School.  The GoFundMe donation link is https://bit.ly/4e64jDq . Donations can also be made at the First Bank of Pike, where an account has been established for this purpose.