FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH-The mother of Jeffery Watson Junior, a 13-year-old who died after spending nearly 45 minutes underwater in Lake Superior, returned to Duluth after taking her son off life support on Tuesday.
Sylvia Hale says the decision had to be made because after intense surgery and prayer nothing else could be done.
 
She said goodbye to her youngest of eight kids at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota-Minneapolis.

She also says she is learning more about who her son was every day. But as support continues so does it the pain.
 
"And I see my baby, lying on that table, and his pupils are fixed,” Hale said. "He was on basically life support machine which was making his blood flow and pumping his heart. And he had no chance of survival."

Pastor Gabriel Green with the Church of Restoration Twin Ports says he has stayed by the family's side since the rescue.

The teenager looked so much different than he remembered, Green said. Jeffery was passionate about playing basketball and just talking to everyone he met.
 
"He always had a smile on his face. And when he messed up, he would tell you right away 'I’m sorry’,” Green said.
 
"You know, he loved people,” Hale said. “There are more people here that Jeffery met. There are people calling me that I didn't even know he knew,” Hale said.

And as love and support continues coming in for the family, Hale - who talked to her son until the moment he died - cries in pain thinking of the life Jeffery could have had growing up in Duluth.
 
"And I preached in a sermon this past Sunday,” Pastor Green said. “That every tear that drops – God understands that one tear means more than anything we could ever say out of our mouth."
 
"He was 13–years–old,” Hale said. “And the sweetest person you'd ever want to talk to. It was unique. You know he was somebody? He still is somebody in heaven. He's my son. Jeffery Watson Junior," Hale said.
 
The funeral for Watson Junior will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday June 12 at the Cremation Society of Duluth.
 
Memorial funds have also been set up. You can donate at any U.S. Bank care of the Jeffery Watson family.
 
Pastor Green is also taking donations at his church, The Church of Restoration 2022 West Superior Street. The church has been helping with transportation for the family and other support since the accident.