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It has been 10 years since Laurel Williams was killed in a horrific car crash on Foothill Road, and her mother Kathy Pace-Williams hopes friends and family will join her next Friday, Oct. 20, for one last public tribute to her “fallen angel.”
The observance will start at 2 p.m. at Moller Park at Foothill Road and Stoneridge Drive, where the entrance is around the corner at 5300 Pleasant Hill Drive. Students at nearby Foothill High School, where Laurel graduated in 2006, are expected to come to the park when classes are dismissed at 3 p.m.
It was Laurel’s friend and classmate Katie McKewon who was at the wheel that Sunday morning Oct. 20, 2007, after the girls were headed home from a party held the night before. McKewon, driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit, veered over the center line on Foothill Road, crashing head-on into a Mercedes SUV, killing Laurel and seriously injuring the driver of the SUV.
McKewon served part of a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter. Paul Stonebarger, who provided the underage girls alcohol at that party, served three months in jail on a misdemeanor ruling.
“These two have moved on with their lives, but I haven’t and can’t,” said Pace-Williams, who is now divorced from Laurel’s father Ken. “We haven’t talked for years. I’m alone, surrounded by photos and memories. I can’t let 10 years go without another tribute to my beautiful girl.”
The Williams family set up a foundation to provide funds for Las Positas College and Foothill High girls to continue their education at four-year colleges — as Laurel, a freshman at Las Positas when she died, planned to do.
Laurel Alice Williams scholarships had been awarded to four students before misfortune struck again.
The Tri-Valley Community Foundation, which was administering the scholarship funds that then totaled $26,000, abruptly closed its doors in bankruptcy. Pace-Williams said $13,000 was later restored in a court settlement, but the Williams foundation lost the rest, including a potential grant from Safeway Corp., where she worked. Despite her efforts and numerous fundraising dinners, the memorial scholarship program was never revived.
“When that happened, it really took me down,” Pace-Williams said. “I’m still so heartbroken. I wanted to keep Laurel’s memory alive. She was a bright, spirited, beautiful vivacious young woman.”
In the years shortly after the accident, Laurel’s parents talked at high school programs to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving. Even though they don’t condone it, they recognized that some teens are going to drink alcohol so they sought to establish a service for them similar to those offered by AAA and “safe ride home” organizations.
They had also hoped that McKewon and Stonebarger would share their guilt with students. But except for a brief meeting with some Foothill students after she was released from prison, Katie McKewon (who is now married) has been silent. So has Stonebarger. Nor has either one contacted Pace-Williams to express their sorrow.
“Laurel was a popular girl with many friends who gave me a lot of comfort as I worked to recover from her loss,” Pace-Williams said. “But they, too, have moved on, finished college, married and are having babies.”
“I understand that,” she continued. “I just hope they’ll come to my Moller Park remembrance to pay tribute once more to Laurel, the girl we all loved.”
For more information, contact Pace-Williams at the email site she still maintains in her daughter’s honor: angelkisses4laurel@yahoo.com.
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Laurel Williams in Facebook photo posted by her mother Kathy Pace-Williams. Laurel was 19 years old when killed in a car crash Oct. 20, 2007. (Contributed photo) -
Kathy Pace-Williams (left) will honor the memory of late daughter Laurel Williams (right) next week at Moller Park. (Contributed photo) -
Tribute to Laurel Williams on Foothill Road near the site of the crash that claimed her life nearly a decade ago. (Contributed photo)
Such a tragedy for this young woman, her family, Katie and Paul. Losing one of your children, especially for a mother, has to be one of the most difficult of life. Although I have never suffered the loss of a child, I have worked through many other difficulties. I have personally found great comfort, peace, hope, and reconciliation through my belief in God and Jesus Christ. I pray Kathy can find enough peace and hope in her own way to move forward. No mom deserves to lose a child.
Steve and I wish we could be there to celebrate your beautiful daughter. We are living in AZ. We understand your pain and sadness. We are sending our love and prayers to you Kathy, and your family. May God continue to bless you and give you strength. You are such a kind and loving person. One step at a time…one day at a time.
Kathy,
May laurel soul rest in peace. We know the pain of losing kid… still you eyes look for them everwhere…we have lost our 11 years angel in 6 years back….my daughter used to go to Lydykson elementary…
we can only pray for departed soul…
May God give you strength….
We have only memories and their pictures to keep them with us… you can also create memorial page for her at
http://www.last-memories.com
God bless you….
Singh
The cities and people who run the local towns are doing whatever they can to prevent cannabis from becoming prevalent/legal..meanwhile they slam down their wine at Wente and downtown 😉
That being said, RIP to this young lady. Prayers to her family.
Stevie Wonder once said that he’d drive himself before he’d get into a car with someone who had been drinking behind the wheel. Kids have to be taught to be responsible and sensible enough to call for a ride if they and they’re friends have been drinking. The tragedies like this one seem to indicate that they are not being so advised and taught.
My thoughts and prayers go out to BOTH of the families affected by this tragic accident. TWO young adults made poor decisions that night. May we all (young and old) learn from this sad event.
Kathy and family – My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I think of Laurel every time I pass her memorial. She will never be forgotten. Her story has impacted me and many of my classmates. May God give you strength every day.