We lived in east Lincoln county when the girls were growing up. Gwen graduated from East Lincoln High School (7th in her class) in 1990 and went on to UNC. She was in her 4th year at the UNC School of Pharmacy when she was killed on March 11, 1994. (We sponsor the Kappa Psi/Gwen Stroud Memorial Scholarship at UNC-Pharmacy School. Also, because Gwen excelled in athletics as well as academics in high school, we sponsor the Gwen Stroud Memorial Sportsmanship Award at ELHS.) It was Spring Break and Gwen had gone to the grocery store in Coulwood and was on her way back to her sister’s (Margie) for dinner and to watch the Tarheels play in the ACC Tournament. She was driving a Ford Mustang through a green light at the intersection of Hwy 16N & Rozzelle Ferry/Nance Cove Rd and an ambulance ran a red light and struck her car at the driver’s door. (This intersection is just inside Mecklenburg County south of the Catawba River bridge at Riverbend Steam Station. There's a cross on the embankment where her car came to rest.) The ambulance had red lights and siren on but due to the lay out of that intersection with a curve and embankment blocking her view, I'm pretty sure Gwen never knew what hit her. She died at the scene. Her boyfriend came upon the accident and took the police to Margie's to break the sad news. Margie phoned us (Doug and I were living in northern VA at the time) and we in turn, phoned my parents. Those are the most difficult calls to receive and to make. I could barely get the words out. My prayer would be that no parent would ever have to experience that shock and pain.

Gwen was a beautiful, bright and caring young woman, dying just 1 month short of her 22nd birthday. You never truly get over such a terrible loss of one so dear but you do go on and life does return to "normal" in many ways. That's what I love about the "Angels of 97" and now the planned ministries in that it helps us remember and honor our loved ones and support each other while helping others to get through the worst experience of their lives. Turning tragedy into something worthwhile and positive is a blessing from God. Our faith has sustained us and we do see God’s hand in our lives and have hope for the future.

Jane did tell me about the Ministries and I look forward to being actively involved. It helps us to reach out to others who are traveling down that dark path of loss, sorrow and grief. Thanks so much for your responses. I look forward to meeting you and participating in the golf and in the ministries.

Thanks for letting me share about Gwen and may God bless your efforts.