Mother: Kerr Lake drowning victim 'wanted to go further in life'

The Vance County Rescue Squad found the body of Keyon Philippe, a high school junior from Warren County, around 10:45 a.m.

Philippe's family members said he drowned around 6:30 p.m. at Satterwhite Point Lake, an access area at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area.

"They were at a birthday party cookout and one of the kids pushed a ball into the water," said Philippe's aunt. "Keyon could swim, so he went out to get the ball, but he was pulled in. He went down about four times and came back up, but on the fifth time he did not come back above water."

"I seen my son out there, trying to come back and he couldn't come and he was trying and he was frightened," said Philippe's mother, Wanda Ballance.

Family member Charitel Rogers said others rushed to Philippe as he struggled to stay above water.

"My brother dove for him a total of eight times, but he just couldn't find him," Rogers said.

Philippe had plans for college, hopes for a football scholarship and enjoyed fun with family.

"He had goals. He wanted to be somebody in life. He wanted to go further in life," said Ballance.

For Ballance, the future is now one she never imagined.

"The worst thing as a mother is losing your child," she said.