Ashlee Kraft ’06, the nineteen-year-old daughter of Hal and Kim Kraft and sister of Kyle Kraft ’03, died in an automobile accident near Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, June 9, 2007.
A freshman majoring in sports medicine at Valdosta State University, Ashlee was working for the summer at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters – a Christian camp in Andrews, North Carolina. She and five fellow staff members were returning from an Atlanta Braves game when their Jeep Liberty SUV rolled off Interstate 575 in Cobb County and overturned several times. All four passengers in the back seat, including Ashlee, were ejected and killed.
A vibrant Christian mentor and servant, Ashlee was a member of the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church in Savannah, and was involved with the 707 Discipleship Group, the United Methodist Wesley Foundation, the Baptist Student Union, and the Coastal Chrysalis Community.
Committed to her faith, church, family, and teams, Ashlee was consistent, dedicated and faithful. She had this quote posted on her mirror, “Life is about relationships. Make it a habit to let people know how much they mean to you. Live with no regrets.”
According to Isle of Hope UMC Youth Minister Rev. Rob Grotheer ’74, “Ashlee was one of the best youth I’ve had the pleasure to be in ministry with. She was a real minister, taking risks that no sane adult would venture.”
 |
| Kim, Ashlee, Emily, Kyle and Hal Kraft |
|
|
A consummate athlete, Ashlee played goalie for the Raider Girl’s Soccer team, earned Honorable Mention for the 2005 All-City Team, was named Rookie of the Year as a freshman and captured the Coach’s Award her sophomore and junior years. She played volleyball as a freshman and continued as manager for three years after being sidelined by injuries that included broken bones in both feet, bad knees, and an injured shoulder. When Mrs. Kraft referred to Dr. Tad Wilson as the man who kept putting her daughter back together, Dr. Wilson replied, “No Kim, Ashlee has always had it together.”
“Ashlee worked for Christ,” says Rev. Grotheer. “She was in the seed planting business. She planted the seeds of Christ through her constant smile, her passion for life, her concern for others, her helping in all situations, and in her desire to know more of Jesus.”
Ashlee made quite an impression during her few short weeks at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters. She had already sprained her wrist in a skit. And she had shown her ability to keep it together when she helped save a girl’s life by administering an Epi Pen shot to a young camper experiencing an allergic reaction.
According to SCPS parent Wendy Williamson – whom Ashlee convinced to slide down an off-limits waterfall at Deep Creek, North Carolina, resulting in a post plunge face-to-face with a Park Ranger – “Ashlee was the first to volunteer, the first to laugh and the last to quit.”
|
