WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
If you were on your way home and died in a car accident, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? That was the question our daughter addressed to her high school, in a speech only a week before she was tragically killed by a drunk driver on October 8, 2005. At the age of 17, her life on earth had ended.
On her way home from a fall party with friends, traveling on the interstate, a pickup truck slammed into her head-on going the wrong way. The other driver, who was 23 years old, was also killed. It was later determined through toxicology reports that he was legally drunk (twice the legal limit). There was also evidence of drugs in his system.
Two lives gone from this earth, but not forgotten by those who are left behind. Such contrasting lives, both young and struggling with the pressures of school, peers, job, and life. One choose to give into those pressures but the other was striving forward and learning how to handle those pressures of life.
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Marie Tate was a young girl becoming a beautiful young woman. She was full of life and energy. She loved to encourage others. She was an athlete too. Through her junior-high and high-school years, she enjoyed playing softball, volleyball, and cheerleading. She also loved to act, sing, and play the piano. The highlight of her junior year was being chosen and playing the role of "Cinderella" in her high school play. Yet, she was a typical teenager struggling with loneliness, heartache, and the pressure of life.
At the age of 16, Elizabeth won some recording time at a local studio. She recorded her own CD singing music she liked and previously recorded by some Christian contemporary artist. You can hear those songs along with her speech on this website. The speech was added to her CD after she was killed. The speech was presented by her after being nominated for homecoming queen. You will also find a miraculous picture that was taken by the fire department who responded to the scene that night. There is an aura in the picture. Some might say it was a cloud. Others might say something got on the film. They called it their "angel picture". We do too.
In just a few years of life on this earth, she was able to touch so many lives. She found the strength to go on and persevere through her struggles by putting her faith and trust in her Heavenly Father. "Hear my cry, O God; Listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.” Psalm 61:1-4.
This website has been created by Elizabeth's family to honor her memory and life. It is our hope and desire that we may be able to help others through a memorial foundation that has been established to set up scholarship funds for graduating seniors going to college and to help other victims of drunk driving. Anyone wishing to donate a tax-deductible contribution or if you would like a free copy of her CD, please send your request and address to:
Elizabeth Tate Memorial Foundation, Inc.
8830 East State Road 32
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
"WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ELIZABETH"
Listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.”
-Psalm 61:1-4