HALL OF FAME CAREER
As the community pays its respects to Lake Little today, among the myriad things she will be remembered for is her academic success and involvement at Starkville Academy.
Little graduated in the school’s class of 2019 and was slated to attend the University of Southern Mississippi. At SA, Little was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club and Key Club and ran for various student offices. In addition, she was involved in Volunteer Athletics, cheering and playing tennis and soccer. She was also one of the students selected by SA faculty for the school’s Hall of Fame for the class of 2019. She was also named one of 251 regional finalists for the Coca-cola scholarship, the sole Mississippi Student to make it to the regional finals in 2019.
Katie Mcdonald taught at SA and served as co-chair of Crown Club, a Junior Auxiliary group for high school-aged girls that Little was involved in. She was also the class sponsor for Little’s class of 2019 during her sophomore and junior years. She remembered Little as a person
who could light up a room.
“I am absolutely shocked and still trying to comprehend how a girl in her prime of life with nothing but a bright future ahead of her is suddenly gone,” Mcdonald said. “Life is so short. I cannot imagine, There’s definitely heavy hearts in the town of Starkville. It makes me just want to hug all my kiddos and know that they know Jesus.”
Mcdonald also remembered Little’s natural ability with children, both at SA and with outreach through Crown Club. She said Little had planned to come home from college to play Sleeping Beauty again at the Crown Club’s Princess Tea. Her love of working with children led her to found Reading Matters, a program to help teach local children how to read.
“Watching her during pep rallies and seeing how well she interacted with all the little princesses was something to be admired,” Mcdonald said. “She always made others feel better about themselves. She had a contagious smile.”
Starkville Academy Head of School Jeremy Nicholas said Little was always willing to help in whatever way possible. He also referred to her as seeming “larger than life.”
“Lake had a commanding presence about her that enabled her to stand out in a crowd and win over the room,” Nicholas said. “She was someone who was more than willing to help others, whether it be working with younger kids at school or serving on mission trips with her church.”
Nicholas also remembered Little’s ability to relate to all ages. He said her smile made one feel a kinship with her.
“Lake was spirited in a good and fun way, which meant she was always ready to challenge you with an idea or to debate a topic about which she was passionate,” Nicholas said. “No matter the reason for talking to her, you rarely walked away without smiling for some reason or another.”
Additionally, Nicholas remembered Little’s faith.
“I know that she has taken her place with fellow believers in heaven,” Nicholas said. “But until we get to join her one day, our hearts are heavy with her passing.”
After graduating from SA, Little planned to study speech pathology at USM. She hoped to work with children and the elderly as a speech pathologist, while at the same time furthering her career in aviation. She dreamed of some day being a pilot for Fedex.
Southern Miss Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost Dee Dee Anderson said the USM community was saddened by Little’s death.
“Lake was a bright and accomplished student who we were excited to have as a member of our community,” Anderson said. “She will always be in our hearts and will always be a Golden Eagle. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”
A memorial scholarship fund has been set up in her name at USM. Donations can be made to the Lake Little Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation 118 College Drive #5120 39406.
In a January interview with the SDN after being announced as a semifinalist for the Cocacola Scholarship, Little said the application was easy for her because helping people was a normal part of her life.
“I love helping people and making an impact, so whenever they were asking all these questions on my application for this, I was just filling everything out,” Little
said. “To me, that’s just what I do normally.”