A week that began as a time of celebration for Kirk Academy students ended in tragedy last Friday afternoon prior to the culmination of Homecoming festivities.
Just after 4 p.m., news began quickly circulating around town that two senior girls at the Grenada County private school had been involved in a horrific All-Terrain Vehicle accident on Carrollton Road just inside Carroll County, killing one and leaving another severely injured and hospitalized.
Instead of crowning a Homecoming Queen that night, students gathered Saturday evening at the school for a prayer vigil and again Monday morning to celebrate the life of Leah Fielder at Emmanuel Baptist Church for her funeral.
“Due to a tragedy in the KA family, all Homecoming festivities are canceled for this evening,” KA officials announced two hours before Homecoming festivities were set to begin. “The football game will still be played, but no cheerleaders will be performing. We ask that you pray for our Kirk community at this time.”
The premature death of the 17-year-old, who has been described as a shining light and beloved classmate, has shocked the entire community. Hundreds of KA students, along with family and friends from nearby Grenada High School and surrounding counties gathered for the prayer vigil as Fielder’s life was celebrated with devotion, prayer, hymns and the lighting of candles that flickered in the night sky in her memory.
“To truly know Leah Fielder was to absolutely love and adore her,” KA Senior Class President Emma Kirk, who has been Fielder’s classmate since kindergarten, said. “Words truly cannot explain how broken we are.”
As family and friends gathered to comfort one another over the weekend and mourn Fielder, her strong Christian faith has dominated each conversation.
“Leah was the best classmate, friend and, most importantly, a lover of Jesus,” Kirk continued. “It was so obvious in every action that Leah had Jesus in her heart. She had the most contagious laugh and a welcoming smile that could light up any room. She was so genuine, kind and one of the sweetest people I have ever met. Although the community is devastated, we rejoice in knowing that Leah is home. We will see her so soon.”
Classmate Kaycie Clements sustained multiple injuries including two chipped vertebrae in her lower back, a fractured pelvis, bruised lungs, a broken arm, clavicle and ankle among other injuries in the accident and was airlifted from the scene to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She has undergone multiple surgeries to repair the damages and remains hospitalized.
Kaycie Clements
Fielder, Clements, Molly Lane and Emily Lane, all seniors at Kirk Academy, have been inseparable friends their entire lives. Their classmates agree that if you saw one, the other three were nearby.
Molly Lane, who is president of KA’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, also spoke of Fielder’s love for the Lord.
“Leah was a walking example of Christ,” she said. “I hope that people can look at her life and live the way she did. She was the best friend I could ever have asked for. I am so thankful that I had a Leah in my life.”
Emily touched on Fielder’s love for life.
“She was the kindest, purest and most selfless person I have ever met,” she said. “She was my best friend for 17 years. She was the only person who loved sunsets more than me. I loved her so much and always will.”
Longtime classmate Abby Beissel took to social media to express her feelings for Fielder.
“To my Leah, how sweet and precious you truly were,” her Facebook post read. “So giggly and joyful. A blinding light in our dark world. Although my heart is so incredibly broken, I know you truly had the most perfect homecoming of all. To know you were welcomed by Jesus and crowned in ultimate glory brings me so much happiness. I’ll love and miss you forever. Until I see you again, angel.”
Fielder, a Duck Hill resident, was a lifelong member of Elliott Baptist Church. Her pastor, Michael Payton, one of three local clergymen to speak during the candlelight vigil, opened the service.
“When you bury someone that’s in their 80s or 90s, it’s a little easier – it’s still not easy, but it’s a little bit easier,” Payton told the crowd on hand. “But whenever you take someone that is 17 years old and their life ends the way that Leah’s has, it’s tough – it’s tough on everybody. It’s tough on family and it’s tough on friends. I know it’s tough, I know it’s hard.”
Emmanuel Baptist Church pastor Dr. Brent Barker and Andy Cummings, minister of music at First Baptist Church Grenada, also spoke during the service. They echoed the countless stories of Fielder’s conviction, which spread like wildfire throughout Grenada and nearby communities.
Former KA English teacher Denise Boxx wrote about the teenager’s true homecoming on Facebook.
“Homecoming – a time where you have fun dressing up, make floats, see a huge pep rally and the queen is crowned at the game,” she penned Saturday. “Folks ‘come home’ and visit. It’s a celebration. For sweet Leah Fielder, yesterday was her true homecoming. In the game of life, she was victorious, for she knew Jesus. She was welcomed home to heaven in a grand celebration. She was the one who humbly received her crown. I pray through this difficult tragedy, many will come to know Jesus like Leah, so they too can be welcomed home one day.”
In the spring, Fielder began working as a part-time secretary at Grenada County Farm Bureau. Agency manager Robert Carollo said the Commerce Street office will be dimmer without Fielder’s smiling face.
“She was a ray of sunshine every day at the office,” he said. “I remember when she came in to interview for the job; she was so nervous. She always would smile even when she may have been sad. I can see her walking to my office door and look around at me. She would stand there smiling until I said come on in. Her attitude and smile were contagious and she made our office at Farm Bureau better every day she was there.”
An instant connection was sparked between Fielder and Farm Bureau agent Marianne Staten Bell.
“A year ago, I didn’t even know this sweet soul,” she said. “Her contagious smile and peaceful spirit quickly filled our office and she became our ‘little Leah.’ Our day brightened when she walked in the door. Her humble demeanor could handle anything that walked into that office.”
Bell also described Fielder as the “best dog sitter.”
“My Georgia and Dallas loved her and she loved them,” Bell continued.
An unsettled deliberation between Bell and Fielder has also now been settled.
“One debate that Leah and I never settled was if Whales are better than extra cheese Goldfish,” she said. “I like Whales and she liked the Goldfish. I will never eat Whales again, Leah. Extra cheese Goldfish win.”
Fielder was laid to rest in Elliott Baptist Church Cemetery Monday. #livelikeleah
