Family and friends are keeping the student's legacy alive after the crash

HIGHLAND, Ark. (KAIT) – It's been nearly two months since a Highland student died in an accident, but people in her community are still keeping her legacy alive.

On Friday, September 13, 17-year-old Grace Pendarvis of Brooklyn was killed when her vehicle lost control and collided with an 18-wheeler on Highway 63.

Her mother, Andrea Pendarvis, is a teacher in the Highland School District. That morning, Brooklynn left a few minutes earlier than her mother and sister.

“We pulled out of the driveway at 7:04 a.m. and finally hit some traffic and stopped and just had a feeling,” Andrea said. “I said to Macy, 'Go to Life360 and see where your sister is.' When she pulled out the phone and showed it to me and her little icon didn’t move, I knew.”

Andrea and Brooklynn's father, Jody Pendarvis, said she loved everyone from a young age.

“She was the happiest baby, the happiest toddler, the happiest little girl ever,” Andrea said. “Many other students told me that they were sitting alone in the cafeteria and Brooklynn went and sat with them.”

“She made everyone feel important, no matter who you were, she put a smile on everyone’s face,” Jody said.

Andrea saw Brooklynn's love at home, where she was caring for a calf. Even if that meant occasionally having to stay overnight once or twice early. Her teammate Emilee Duhme said she really loved her calf.

“She was worried all night that she would have to get up and feed George. She said don't let me sleep because George would be mad at me. She loved her cow,” Duhme said.

Brooklynn was also an athlete and played volleyball and basketball. Her teammates said she was more than an athlete.

“She was a bright spot, and that’s not downplayed at all. I mean, when she walked into a room, you could almost feel that she was there,” Duhme said.

Highland girls basketball coach Cecil Meyer said Brooklynn made the best of everything, as did her friend Macy Daggett.

“Nobody fired more shots outside of practice. She was willing to do whatever was asked of her, always had a good spirit, was always happy,” Meyer said.

“She truly loved everything she did, she gave everyone all her love and we all knew that. She showed everyone she really loved them,” Daggett said.

Since Brooklynn's death, the entire school and community have come out to support the Pendarvis family and their friends.

“It helps us put the broken pieces of our lives back together again. Our family and friends, our church, the community, the businesses and ultimately the Highland School District are literally saving our lives and our family’s lives,” Andrea said.

“It really underscores how good of a person she was that people everywhere from other schools and things like that come together just as strongly as we do,” Duhme said.

Brooklynn's loss continues to be felt throughout the community, but her legacy will live on.

“She enjoyed every second she ever lived on this earth and it was wonderful to be there and see it,” Duhme said.

Brooklynn continues to be remembered with the hashtag #lovelikebrooklynn. The Lady Rebels basketball team plans to honor her in many ways this season.

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