Nearly two weeks after a bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Guilford Road, family and friends gathered Saturday to honor his life.

The crash has already led to an arrest. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 42-year-old Jelekzey Gamboa Thiele of Naples is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

Investigators say John “Bubby” Thomas had a light on his bicycle at the time, and the road was lit by streetlights. Troopers later found the SUV involved parked at a nearby apartment complex.

Loved ones say Bubby was always smiling, always joking, and always helping others, even while facing his own struggles with addiction and homelessness. One woman he met on the streets recalled how Bubby carried her belongings in his bike trailer and gave her rides when her car broke down. “He would do anything for anyone,” his mother, Mary Thomas, said.

At the memorial, Bubby’s daughter, Alayna, was honored with a letter she wrote to her dad.

“It’s about Jesus and her daddy and praying for her daddy, and she loves him,” Mary said. Instead of flowers, mourners brought water, snacks, pizza, and clothes, all donated to the homeless, in the same spirit of giving that defined Bubby’s life.

“If this can bring one person off the street in Jesus name and memory of my son, or give them food, then Amen,” Mary said.

The family says they’ve set up a GoFundMe account to help support Bubby’s five children. One of them, his mother shared, is autistic, nonverbal, and not potty trained, requiring full-time care.

As the memorial came to a close, family and friends offered prayers, hugs, and memories. A cross, made by a man still living on the streets, was placed at the center of the intersection, a symbol of love, loss, and community.

“Everybody misses you, son, and we love you,” Mary said. “We know you’re in heaven.”