Janice Golf and her son, Freddie, are two of hundreds of
family and friends who packed into the Mount Zion First
African Baptist Church on Monday, January 10th.
They all came for one reason; to say goodbye to
nine-year-old Tekeyah Williams, a little girl many say had
a big heart.
"She would always be playing with the other kids, and the
kids when they felt sad, she always asked do you want to
play with me," said Freddie Smith, Tekeyah's classmate.
Playing was exactly what Tekeyah was doing New Year's Eve
when a car driven by Derick Coger struck her as she rode
her new scooter. Tekeyah died three days later at UVA
Medical Center.
For many, the accident's tragic nature is what made news of
her death so hard to deal with.
"I was kind of devastated, I don't think my son understands
that much, but I do understand and it just tore me to
pieces," said Golf.
But even through their sorrow, the crowd at Mt. Zion still
found strength to remember the little girl with a big
smile.
"I never knew her but my son talked about her a lot so I
know she had to be great," said Golf.
So great, it's hard to imagine how anyone could ever forget
her.
