Education
Education

Crosswalk named for Cobb middle school crossing guard who was killed on the job

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the Edna Umeh memorial crosswalk in front of Lindley High School. Umeh, 64, was fatally hit by a car on Nov. 30, 2017, while she was directing traffic on Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton.

Credit: Cobb County

Credit: Cobb County

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the Edna Umeh memorial crosswalk in front of Lindley High School. Umeh, 64, was fatally hit by a car on Nov. 30, 2017, while she was directing traffic on Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton.
By Kristal Dixon
Aug 6, 2021

A crosswalk in front of a south Cobb middle school has been named after a crossing guard who was hit and killed by a car while on duty.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for the Edna Umeh memorial crosswalk in front of Lindley Middle School. Umeh, 64, was fatally hit by a car on Nov. 30, 2017, while she was directing traffic on Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton.

The driver of the vehicle, Lamonte Whitaker of Lithonia, in August 2018 was sentenced to five years in prison for hitting Umeh, of Austell, with his vehicle.

ExploreCobb crossing guard’s death sparks calls to address ‘dangerous’ road

THe mother of three’s family pushed for safety improvements following her death. Cobb County conducted a safety audit of Veterans Memorial Highway and in May 2018 installed two electronic road signs that tells drivers how fast they are going.

Edna Umeh, 64, was fatally hit by a car on Nov. 30, 2017, while she was directing traffic in front of Lindley Middle School in Mableton. Credit: Channel 2 Action News
icon to expand image

In March, the county activated a HAWK, or High-intensity Activated crossWalK, beacon that allow pedestrians to push a button notifying motorists that they are trying to cross the road.

State Rep. Erica Thomas in 2018 introduced “Edna’s Law,” which would allow law enforcement officers to use speed detection technology while patrolling designated school zones.

ExploreMore stories about Cobb County public schools

About the Author

Kristal Dixon covers Cobb and DeKalb county schools for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Before joining the AJC, Dixon worked for Patch.com and the Cherokee Tribune in Canton.

Follow Kristal Dixon on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Michelle Roache, pictured with her two youngest children, 3-year-old Elijah and 4-year-old Gianna, recently graduated from Clayton State University. She received a child care scholarship through Quality Care for Children and the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant, which made it possible for her to finish her degree. Now the grant is on the chopping block. (Courtesy of Michelle Roache)

Credit: Photo courtesy Michelle Roache

This child care grant changes Georgia parents’ lives. Feds may cut it.

The small but mighty federal grant helps low-income parents pay for child care while they finish college.

Congress considers holding universities accountable if degrees don’t pay

U.S. House and Senate are considering pieces of legislation that could make colleges and universities financially accountable for students who struggle after leaving school.

Atlanta educator this week joins national teacher hall of fame

Valerie Camille Jones Ford, head of the math department at Ron Clark Academy, is the second person from Atlanta to be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

The Latest

Michelle Roache, pictured with her two youngest children, 3-year-old Elijah and 4-year-old Gianna, recently graduated from Clayton State University. She received a child care scholarship through Quality Care for Children and the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant, which made it possible for her to finish her degree. Now the grant is on the chopping block. (Courtesy of Michelle Roache)

Credit: Photo courtesy Michelle Roache

This child care grant changes Georgia parents’ lives. Feds may cut it.

Congress considers holding universities accountable if degrees don’t pay

Atlanta educator this week joins national teacher hall of fame

Featured

Since 2023, customers of Georgia Power, which operates Plant Vogtle, have experienced six PSC-approved rate hikes. Polls open Tuesday for primary elections to select candidates for Georgia’s powerful utility regulatory board. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Today’s primary could help determine how much you pay for electricity

It’s the first time Georgia’s approximately 8.4 million registered voters have had the opportunity to vote in a Public Service Commission primary election in three years.

Atlanta finally has new tree protection rules. Some say it’s not enough.

Several Atlanta City Council members said they believe more needs to be done to protect trees in the “city in the forest."

Feds say Georgia tax preparer’s fraud likely cost the U.S. millions

Years of fraud by a Georgia tax return preparer has likely cost the IRS millions of dollars, the Justice Department says in a lawsuit seeking to put her out of business.