Let's remember The entire Hemphill community....

[Guest ECBucFan]

Hemphill mourns loss of 3 teens killed in car wreck 

By RYAN MYERS , The Enterprise 

Pete Churton/The Enterprise

Hemphill High School students comfort each other Monday at a memorial for three students who died in a car wreck on Friday. 

HEMPHILL - Black ribbon, letters to suddenly departed friends.

Openly weeping, students embraced Monday at a makeshift memorial near the Hemphill High School band hall.

Like these teenagers, Hemphill has opened its heart, sharing a tragic burden.

Three young women, Sara Katlyn Click, a sophomore; Sarah Emmaline Adame, a junior; and Sarah Elizabeth Felts, a senior, died Friday in a car wreck near Nacogdoches.

In a town of 1,100, each was a well-known figure in a social scene of fewer than 300 high school students.

Since the painful news arrived, parents have opened their homes, hosting impromptu gatherings where Hemphill's teens shared stories and grieved together for their friends.

Denise Taylor, whose daughter was best friends with Adame, said the community's response has been as powerful as the tragedy.

"The way people have turned out, it's like one big family here," Taylor said by phone while her daughter met with friends. "We've lost three beautiful girls who were truly loved," she said.

At the high school Monday, principal Marc Griffin said a memorial began over the weekend with students deciding of their own accord to affix letters on a chain link fence near the band hall.

Felts played trumpet in the band and Click was a majorette.

Amid candles, stuffed animals, paintings and about 100 letters, one page read, "... three little angels we have watched them grow, three little angels we're proud to know."

Griffin, born in Hemphill and a graduate of the high school, said counselors were at the school Monday from surrounding towns and nearby universities.

Students kept the counselors busy, but Griffin said his faculty was equally affected, as each young woman had a parent or grandparent who works for the Hemphill Independent School District.

"It would be hard to talk to anyone in town that didn't know them. We're talking about three well-known, role-model girls," the principal said.

Planning for Monday's classes began Saturday, interim Superintendent Glenn Pearson said in his office.

"All my administrators and some teachers met Saturday and then I met with them Sunday to plan what to do," Pearson said.

Administrators visited each girl's parents, seeking their opinions, then prepared a press release and planned what teachers would say in classrooms, Pearson said.

"The community is hurting right now," the superintendent said. The teachers came in early for a meeting; we knew the students would be hurting."

An eighth grade track meet Monday night went on as scheduled so students would have a place to meet and talk and avoid being alone, Pearson said.

On his way to the track meet, senior Jared Powell said students set aside differences Monday.

"The morning was pretty touchy, a lot of awkward silence," Powell said by phone. "But usually everyone hangs out in their own little groups of friends, but today everyone hung out together, helped each other."

Sarah Felts was a senior planning for college, described in letters on the memorial as a leader and trustworthy friend.

Powell said Sara Click was a family friend and a talented baton twirler who "had fun no matter what the circumstances were."

Her principal said Sarah Adame was a talented writer, who with the other girls competed in University Interscholastic League academic competitions.

Another Hemphill High School student, 17-year-old Tasha Leann Felts, Sarah Felts' cousin, survived the accident but remained hospitalized Monday.

Pearson said Tasha Felts was in serious condition with multiple broken bones but was improving.

With Sarah Felts driving, the four girls were on their way to Nacogdoches and Lufkin for shopping and a movie, Griffin said.

In a second car in the crash were Tina Smith, 32; Mindy Smith, 8; John Smith, 4; Amber Pierce, 25; and Destiny Pierce, 2, all of San Augustine. Each was listed in serious or stable condition after the wreck, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Without much organization, most of Hemphill turned up at a park Saturday night, Taylor said.

There were candles; mourners held hands and someone sang "Amazing Grace."

The school band then marched in formation, without uniforms or instruments, to the high school.

"These kids really love each other up here," Taylor said.

"I grew up in a big city. It's not like that here."

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[KFDM COOP]

Prayers from SE Texas

[rhino1877]

Prayers are sent!

[southland]

Our prayers go out to the entire community of Hemphill

[Diehardstro]

Tragic. Prayers sent for the families and the community.

[whsalum]

Prayers from the Warren community.

[EAGLE07]

Very tragic.. Our thoughts and prayers to Hemphill from the Barbers Hill community.

[Lazeek]

Prayers from the HJ family as well.....

[wg88pitcher]

WB sends its prayers

[dhspiratemom]

Prayers from Deweyville are sent.

[BucketSitR]

Prayers from Pineland for our Sabine County brothers. I was at the first of many funerals yesterday in Pineland. A real tough one..kids from both communities are feeling the loss of these three angels. Also i might add that the 8yr old from the other car also passed earlier this week. Prayers sent to the San Augustine county families as well.

[Southpaw]

Thoughts and Prayers from Silsbee

[Aggie@heart10]

Prayers sent from West Hardin/Kountze...

[t-time]

Prayers from Little Cypress.