In Wake Of Crash, UGA Service Remembers Those We Lost

ATHENS, GA -- With prayers and candlelight, University of Georgia community members gathered outside the school's chapel Tuesday night to remember those they'd lost.

It's an annual ceremony -- one the university sponsors to remember all students, faculty and staff members who died during the past year.

But it took on added poignancy this year, coming less than a week after four UGA students were killed in a wreck in Oconee County.

"They are our age and it reminds you of just the fragility of life and that anything can happen at any moment," UGA student Emily Phipps, who said she knew some of the victims, told WSB-TV.

In all, 26 students, faculty and staff who died since last April were remembered at the ceremony, called "Georgia Remembers ... a Candlelight Memorial."

About 200 people attended the somber gathering. Amidst several public prayers, the names of each of the 15 students and 11 faculty and staff members were read aloud, followed by the lighting of a candle and a toll of the chapel bell.

Afterward, those candles were used to light candles held by the entire crowd.

UGA Crash: Alcohol, Speed Were Not Factors, Cops Say

Fresh on each mind was last week's deadly crash.

Last Wednesday, five UGA students, all women, were in a Toyota Camry that authorities say swerved into the opposite lane of Highway 15 near Watkinsville and was struck by another vehicle.

Kayla Canedo, 19, of Alpharetta, Brittany Feldman, 20, of Alpharetta, Christina Semeria, 19, of Milton and Halle Scott, 19, of Dunwoody, all died. Agnes Kim, 21, of Snellville, was the driver of the car. She remained in critical condition this week.

"It's been really tough going on a week here and we're winding up the semester so there's a lot of emotions just with that," assistant athletic director Steve Flippen told WSB at the memorial.

Flags at Half-Staff For UGA Crash Victims

But community members came to remember others as well.

UGA psychology professor Janet Frick told the Athens Banner-Herald she came to honor one of her former students.

Khaled Alsafadi, who died last July 8, used a wheelchair and was involved in a group urging UGA officials to make the UGA Arch on Broad Street more accessible to people with disabilities.

“He was a great kid, very passionate, really interesting to talk to,” Frick told the paper.

The 15 students remembered at the memorial service were:

• Emmanuel Agyei Agyemang, a third-year student from Savannah majoring in chemistry
• Khaled Mohamad Alsafadi, a fourth-year student from Suwanee majoring in psychology;
• Kayla Leigh Canedo, a second-year student from Alpharetta majoring in psychology;
• John Michael Eden, a third-year student from Winder majoring in computer science;
• Brittany Katherine Feldman, a second-year student from Alpharetta majoring in human development and family science
• Allison Thomas Johnson, a fourth-year student from Jonesboro majoring in English
• Harrison Austin Jones, a fourth-year student from Columbus majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology
• Jonathan Gray Kicklighter, a first-year student from Colquitt majoring in chemistry
• Samantha Kaye Pohl, a master's student from Halletsville, Texas, studying avian medicine
• Caroline Daniel Ramsey, a doctoral student from Athens studying English
• Halle Grace Scott, a third-year student from Dunwoody majoring in marketing
• Cara McKim Seckman, a first-year student from Marietta majoring in advertising and public relations
• Christina Devon Semeria, a second-year student from Milton majoring in exercise and sports science
• John Kyle Spencer, a master's student from Columbus studying conservation ecology and sustainable development
• Lei Wang, a doctoral student from Beijing, China, studying infectious diseases.

The 11 faculty and staff members remembered at the service were:

• Robert John Antonelli, information technology director with the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
• Robert Andrew Bahn, research professional in forestry and natural resources
• Debra Inglett Belvin, administrative associate in agricultural and applied economics, Griffin campus
• Glenn Roger Clements, fire safety inspector in the Environmental Safety Division
• Kevin Blair Garrison, project manager in the Office of the Vice President for Research
• Joseph Ernest Lowe IV, constituent based director in the College of Pharmacy
• Jacqueline Virginia Mitchell, administrative assistant in human resources
• Charles Allen Nasworthy, director of the 4-H and Youth Center in Hampton
• Patrick Theodore Nolan, carpenter in the Facilities Management Division
• Desiree Andrea Hammond Oliver, research professional with the Center for Family Research
• Howard John Wiarda, professor in the School of Public and International Affairs