Former TR Athlete Found Dead
Former TR Athlete Found Dead In Tennessee
Former Travelers Rest High School softball star, Rachel Glazebrook was found dead in her Jackson, Tennessee home on Wednesday October 24th. Authorities say foul play is not suspected but the cause of her death will not be determined until the results of an autopsy is released.
Glazebrook joined Union University's (Jackson, Tennessee) softball coaching staff two months ago in August as the assistant softball coach. She had coached two years each at Gardner Webb and Shorter University.
Glazebrook was a three time all-region, all-state honoree at Travelers Rest High School where she was a four year captain of the Devildog softball team. In her sophomore year at TR she posted a regular season ERA (earned run average) of 1.22, struck out 212 batters in 138 innings and led the team in batting with a .500 batting average and 16 RBI's. As a junior she batted .600. In her senior year, 2009, she signed a national letter of intent to attend Georgia Tech and later transferred to North Greenville University. At NGU she was named Conference Carolina's Player of the Year in 2014, was a three year first team all-conference player and was a two time member of the Conference Carolina All Tournament Team and was a NCCAA All American. In 2012 she posted a NGU school record .395 batting average.
“We grieve the passing of coach Glazebrook,” Union University President Samuel “Dub” Oliver said in a press release. “We offer our sincerest condolences to her family and the Union University softball team. Rachel lived her live for Christ and we take comfort in knowing that she is now in the presence of the Savior. I ask the entire Union community to be in prayer for Rachel's family, fellow coaches and student athletes in the days ahead.”
The North Greenville University is also mourning Glazebrook. “The NGU community offers our sincerest condolences to Rachel's family and friends,” said NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant Jr. “Please join me in praying for her family, friends, fellow coaches and the Union University community in the coming days.”
After a stellar playing career at NGU, Glazebrook graduated in 2014 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in communications, literature and psychology.
“Rachel loved the game of softball. She was extremely talented pitching and hitting and she was one of those players that was fun to watch. She found joy in being a great teammate and competitor,” NGU head softball coach Sarah Hall stated in a NGU release. “Rachel was loved by both her teammates and competitors. The entire softball family is grieving her departure. We are confident that she is in the greatest place imaginable and we look forward to being reunited with her one day.”
Glazebrook came from an athletic family. Her older sister Norie, was a standout softball player at Berea High School and was inducted into the Berea High School Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2015. Norie, also a pitcher, led Berea to three consecutive state AAA championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and signed with Kennesaw State University and later transferred to the University of Georgia.
Glazebrook was the daughter of Bob and Sharon Glazebrook of Greenville. Bob Glazebrook is a former defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons (1978 to 1983).