Classmates, friends and relatives gathered Thursday night to remember a Christiansburg teenager killed in a Sunday car wreck. 16-yearold Ashlyn Poole died from injuries suffered in a one-vehicle crash along Mud Pike Road just outside the town limits.
Almost 400 people gathered at the flagpole Thursday at Christiansburg High School to light a candle in her memory.
Assistant Principal Shane Guynn praised the student body for coming together during this tragic event, and Kendall Lewis, who has been the teenager’s friend since kindergarten, read a letter she recently wrote to her.
“I asked her to come back. We were best friends. Everything I
do now is for you. Ashlyn was a blessing in my life,” she said
Lewis also reminded onlookers you never know what you have until it’s gone.
Over 400 people gathered Thursday night at Christiansburg High School for a candle light service in remembrance of Ashlyn Poole who was killed in an accident earlier this week.
Several other young men and women stepped up to the mic, sharing memories of Ashlyn.
There were plenty of tears and smiles as many funny stories were shared during the event.
Friends said she was full of life, sassy and had that special way of making others smile when they were down.
Ashlyn was a rising junior at Christiansburg High School where she ran track and played both volleyball and softball.
Nate O’Dell, the softball coach at the school, called Ashlyn a great player and teammate.
“She came to practice and games full of energy and her teammates fed off that energy.
She was such a joy to coach,always worked hard to get better.
With her infectious smile and laugh, she made it fun to be a part of CHS softball. Ashlyn touched everyone in their own special way and it made us a better player, teammate, coach and person,” he said.
Her teammates planned to wear their softball uniforms during upcoming services in honor of their former centerfielder.
During the candlelight service, Christiansburg Police Chief Mark Sisson told the crowd this was a young girl taken from us too soon, and it’s difficult to sometimes to find the right words to say.
He has two teenage sons and admitted like many others in the community, they have been broken this week and didn’t know what to do.
“You (the student body) will go through a range of emotions over the next few weeks, and you shouldn’t bottle it up. There are people here for you,” he said.
Ashlyn’s boyfriend, Alex Leonard, survived the crash but remains in a Roanoke hospital. His sister addressed the crowd and thanked them for their prayers and support.
Tori Leonard said it was a miracle her brother is still with us. She called Ashlyn Alex’s guardian angel and knows she is with them through all this week’s struggles.
The crowd joined together in singing “Amazing Grace” as
candles lit up the night.
A celebration of Ashlyn’s life was held this morning at Belmont Christian Church, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center.
The high school continues to provide counseling for students and will do so as the school year begins in the next month.
A final police report on the accident has not been released.
On a side note, the Montgomery County Junior Legion baseball team also honored Ashlyn during their Thursday afternoon game in Lynchburg. In cooperation with their opponent and the umpiring staff, they left centerfield (the position Ashlyn played for CHS) open. A ceremonial pitch was delivered, and the game was stopped temporarily to remember her.