JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of an Ed White High School senior killed in a hit-and-run crash accepted her daughter’s diploma at this year’s graduation ceremony.
Alaysha Williams, 17, was killed in September when she was struck while crossing Blanding Boulevard near Cedar Hills Boulevard. The promising student-athlete’s death sent shockwaves through the school community, where she had excelled both in academics and athletics.
“My heart felt full. Everybody in the arena roared when they called her name. So it was me fighting back the tears here and there, but it was just so nice,” Tiereny Williams said.
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Despite the heartbreak, the school made sure Williams was part of every milestone from Senior Night to the yearbook, and even a special resolution from the city council honoring her life and dreams.
“They gave me a call and asked me how to spell her middle name, and I’m like, what’s that about? She said, Because we’re going to give you her diploma,” she said. “I started crying instantly. It made me feel so good that you know she’s still getting her diploma.”
A dedicated room in the family’s home now serves as a memorial to Williams’ achievements. The space houses her diploma, yearbook, and other cherished mementos, including her senior portrait that once hung in the school hallway alongside her classmates.
“I still struggle with the fact that she’s not here,” her mother said. “This is all Alaysha talked about her senior year, what she was going to do, and to me, it seemed like they still did what she had planned.”
Williams’ legacy continues to inspire the Ed White High School community, where her contagious smile and warm personality are remembered by students, faculty, and staff alike.