Smart, athletic, silly, faithful. Abbie Deloach was all of that and more.
A top-notch student, Deloach also excelled at sports, including basketball and volleyball. She was eager to join the nursing program at Georgia Southern University, where she joined the same sorority her mother had been in.
But above all, Deloach was a Christian. She wasn’t shy about her faith, letting it guide her life as she worked to improve herself and encourage others around her, her friends said.
That faith has helped eased some of the pain for Deloach’s family and friends, Allison Jackson, one of her classmates said. Deloach, 21, was one of five nursing students killed Wednesday in an early-morning crash on I-16, just outside of Savannah. The college juniors were heading to a Savannah hospital for their final day of clinicals for the school year when they were involved in the multi-vehicle crash.
“All five of the girls were followers of Christ,” Jackson said Saturday. “I think it helps a lot, knowing where they are. It almost seems like they were his angels here for a temporary time.”
Earlier Saturday, Jackson attended the funeral for Deloach, who is buried in her hometown of Savannah. Nursing students and sorority sisters helped fill Savannah Christian Church, along with numerous relatives and friends.
Despite the overwhelming sadness, the service was uplifting, Jackson said.
“They described her very well,” Jackson said. “It didn’t make me want to cry, it made me want to laugh and remember the good times.”
Sharing stories of their friends has helped fellow classmates get through the tragedy, Jackson said.
“I’d rather talk about the enjoyable moments I had with her rather than cry,” Jackson said.
And there were plenty of fun moments with Deloach. Jamie Cross, a 2014 Georgia Southern graduate, was in the Kappa Delta sorority with Deloach and in the nursing program. Happy, spunky and kind, Cross said, describe Deloach’s personality.
“I can’t tell you how much life she added to our chapter,” Cross said. “She was a one-of-a-kind sister, and I am sure she is up there making all of the angels laugh, being her silly self.”
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