PHOTOS: Vigil for van crash victim Normisha 'MiMi' Monroe

Gwinnett County

PHOTOS: Vigil for van crash victim Normisha 'MiMi' Monroe

Saturday's gathering at Club Drive Park celebrates the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 crashed a week earlier.

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash a week earlier. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe, including her brother, Brice Smith (left) and sister Tamika Gooden (center), release balloons at a gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, and five other women, who died in an interstate crash a week earlier. There was a balloon release at the park, dancing Care Bears and Monroe’s best friend at the turntables. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe - including the grandmother who raised her, Carolyn Suber - gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, and five other women, who died when the We Are Living Proof community van she was in on I-85 at the I-985 split overturned and caught fire a week earlier. There was a balloon release at the park, dancing Care Bears and Monroe’s best friend was the DJ. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Because she loved Care Bears, dancing characters attended the vigil of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville where Daquan Wright, 17, seated, keeps an eye on the characters. The gathering was to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Because she loved Care Bears, the dancing characters attend a vigil for Normisha “MiMi” Monroe and participate in line dancing with family friend Lynn Riche on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville. The gathering was to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, and five other women, who died when the We Are Living Proof community van crashed on the way to an addiction recovery meeting. (Photo :Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women when the We Are Living Proof community van they were in on I-85 crashed a week earlier. Joyah and Marc Montfleurym blow bubbles before the balloon release at the park. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe, including Alicia Wright, 12, wrote notes to Monroe on their balloons at a gathering Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. Alicia attends the aftercare program where MiMi worked. “She was like my Auntie,” she said. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. Many custom T-shirts were handed out and worn; some family members had a photo of Mimi and her mother, who passed away years ago. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. Monroe's best friend of 18 years, Tamika Legrone, speaks before DJ'ing the celebration. “This is really gonna hurt,” Legrone said. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. James and Carolyn Subar speak briefly about Monroe, whom they raised after her mother died. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. Vonya Prokopovich spoke about their friendship saying, “I love you MiMi, and I miss you every day.” (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old. Monroe and five other women died a week earlier when their We Are Living Proof community van crashed on I-85 at the I-985 split in Gwinnett County. Her cousin Brian Logan speaks at the vigil, which included a balloon release and dancing Care Bears. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe, including April Burnette, gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old, who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash on I-85 a week earlier. Photos of Monroe were on display, and a balloon release was also held. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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Family and friends of Normisha “MiMi” Monroe gather Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Club Drive Park in Lawrenceville to celebrate the life of the 38-year-old who died along with five other women in a passenger van crash a week earlier. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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