Kennesaw School Honors Acworth Teen Killed In Tree Fall

KENNESAW, GA -- Harrison High School is celebrating the life of an Acworth teen who died this past weekend in a freak accident at a state park. Joelle Dalgleish died Sunday after a tree snapped and fell on top of her hammock at a campground on Friday night.

Harrison’s cross country team is reportedly planning on creating a scholarship in Joelle's name and the school's golf team has put the letter "J" on their golf balls. Also, the Lady Hoyas basketball ball team called for the team's supporters to wear blue Monday night in honor of Joelle. (To stay up to date on more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Acworth Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

The call of support came as hundreds of students and friends attended a vigil for Joelle at Harrison High's Cobleigh Stadium. Students left flowers and bouquets at a makeshift memorial featuring a statue of the high school's mascot. They also released balloons into the air, many of them with personal notes about Joelle.

In a video shared on social media, Joelle left a lasting mark on how genuine of a person she was. "I try hard to be a good person and be nice to everyone and not judge people for any choice they make or anything they want to do," she says in the clip. "That's the kind of person I want to be. I'm doing that for anyone else, I'm doing it for myself."

Read more: Vigil honors teen killed in tree fall at state park

While her mother didn't attend the vigil, she said, in a statement obtained by WSB-TV, that Joelle "was an amazing, daughter, sister and friend to everyone."

A letter from Harrison High Principal Ashlynn Campbell said that Joelle was "a generous young lady, whose smile and infectious laughter brought happiness to many students and teachers."

Joelle was born in Portland, Oregon, but moved to Acworth when she was 3, according to her obituary, published by West Cobb Funeral Home. Last year, she ran cross country at Harrison High. She was also active as a member of Sanctuary Church in Kennesaw.
Funeral arrangements for Joelle include a visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at West Cobb Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at North Metro Church in Marietta.

Image via West Cobb Funeral Home