A Perry County school community is mourning the loss of 11-year-old Josh Williams, who officials say drowned Friday in an oil pit in his grandparents' garage.

The boy was found unconscious in three feet of water.

11-year-old Josh Williams was a student at Chavies Elementary for most of his life.

Now grief counselors want to make sure his fifth grade classmates can express how they feel about losing him.

“They're searching for a way to make sense for themselves, and at this age, some of them have very little experience with death and it's very difficult,” Cristiana Walker said.

They found a creative way to cope by writing messages of love and happy memories on a bulletin board in Josh's honor. It's clear he had a sense of humor, and charm.

“Josh had made a comment telling one little girl that when he looked into her eyes he needed a map because he got lost,” Walker said.

Kids here have experienced their share of tragedies; this is the third death of a Chavies Elementary student in the past few years. Principal Eddie Browning says though it's never easy, it's important not to break the students' routine.

“We need to talk about what's went on, and then we need to go ahead and go on with the day, as normal as possible,” Principal Eddie Browning said.

Counselors say Josh's classmates are helping each other move on.

Their art work gives them a piece of Josh to hold on to.

Josh Williams' visitation is going on right now, until nine tonight at the Engle-Walker Funeral Home in Hazard.

Funeral services are Tuesday afternoon at one, also at the funeral home.