Fans tell favorite Pat Summitt stories at candlelight vigil
KNOXVILLE — About 100 people gathered on Tennessee’s campus Wednesday night and told their favorite personal anecdotes about former Lady Volunteers basketball coach Pat Summitt at a candlelight vigil.
The vigil took place at Pat Summitt Plaza, which includes a bronze statue of the coach and has served as a meeting place for mourners since Summitt died Tuesday morning at the age of 64.
Fans took turns describing their personal connections to Summitt that showed examples of her determination, her empathy and her sense of humor. They sang “Rocky Top” near the end of the vigil.
“I have a feeling that right now she’s making angels do laps,” said Nora Lou Wilson of Knoxville.
The dozens of floral arrangements at the foot of Summitt’s statue Tuesday night had doubled in size by the start of Wednesday’s vigil.
An orange scarf had been placed around her neck. Signs on the concrete wall behind the statue featured hundreds of signatures. A wood carving of the state of Tennessee stood behind the statue and included the message, “Now go lead your team in heaven.”
Alicia Manning, who played for the Tennessee women’s basketball team from 2008 to 2012 and was part of Summitt’s last team, said she expected the floral arrangements to continue increasing up until the July 14 ceremony at Thompson-Boling Arena celebrating the coach’s life.
“From now until then it’s going to keep getting bigger,” Manning said. “Obviously by then it’s going to be insane, which it should be. She deserves that.”
The most emotional story at the vigil came from Becky Evans of Knoxville, who described an encounter her family had with Summitt while her father — an avid Tennessee fan — was undergoing quadruple-bypass surgery. Summitt, who was in the hospital because of an injured player, overheard Evans and her mom talking about how much their father would love to meet the coach.
Evans said Summitt stayed with her and her mom for three hours. When Evans’ father was out of surgery, Summitt went into his hospital room, spent half an hour visiting him and later thanked him for being a Tennessee fan.
“I just came tonight to honor a great
“I HAVE A FEELING THAT RIGHT NOW SHE’S MAKING ANGELS DO LAPS.” – NORA LOU WILSON
lady of character,” Evans said as she looked back at the statue. “(I was) 17 years old and scared that your dad was going to die and not knowing, and all alone.
“This lady took it upon herself to care for two East Tennessee girls and share her love. I just wanted to honor her tonight and tell her, ‘Thank you, Pat. Thank you for caring about us, and thank you for caring about my dad.’ “
Private service held in Clarksville
A private funeral service for former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt was held Thursday.
Erin Freeman, who has been acting as a spokeswoman for the Summitt family this week, confirmed the funeral took place Thursday in Clarksville. When Summitt died Tuesday, her family had issued a statement saying a private ceremony would be held in middle Tennessee without disclosing a date or exact location.
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick tweeted Thursday that “She has been laid to rest . ... Godspeed Pat . ... Godspeed. U r home.” Former Tennessee players Michelle Marciniak and Chamique Holdsclaw sent tweets indicating they were at the ceremony.
A public ceremony to celebrate Summitt’s life is scheduled for July 14 at Thompson-Boling Arena, the Lady Volunteers’ home floor.