Memorial for Jessica Edwards on Sunday
Family and friends of Jessica Edwards will gather at Firemen’s Park on Sunday to pay tribute to the young woman whose life was cut short by what police say was a case of impaired driving.
The 23-year-old Niagara Falls woman died Feb. 24 after the car she was in collided with another vehicle on Taylor Road near Mountain Road.
“Jessica was the type of person who brought people together so we decided we were going to come together for her,” said high school friend Caitie Cushman.
Cushman grew up around the corner from Edwards and the two attended A.N. Myer Secondary School.
“She was such a beautiful soul,” she said. “She was always there to lend an ear or a hand.”
Cushman and Kara Knisely are organizing the memorial together with assistance from Darian Nixon and Felicia Clark, all former students at A.N. Myer.
The event will start at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Flowers and candles will be available for purchase and all money raised will be donated to the family to assist with funeral costs.
Cushman said the goal of the weekend memorial is to not only remember Edwards, but to also raise awareness of the devastating impact of impaired driving.
“We need to get the word out there about drunk driving,” she said. “We want to show how such a loss can affect the whole community. We want people to think before they drive.”
Edwards, who worked at Tim Hortons on Pin Oak Drive, had volunteered for several relief missions to Nicaragua through Chippawa Presbyterian Church, where she helped to build schools and a church.
According to Niagara Regional Police, a vehicle driven by a male and carrying four female passengers was attempting to make a left turn onto Taylor Road shortly before 11 p.m. when the collision occurred.
All occupants of the vehicle were transported to hospital with varying degrees of injuries. Two remain in hospital. Kimberly Servos, 32, of Thorold, faces several charges including impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.
She was released on bail earlier this week and is scheduled to return to court later this month to answer to the charges.