Death of student sparks goodwill and giving
Photo via gofundme.com
Andrew Abshire, UL student recently killed in an automobile accident, and daughter Amelia
Members of the UL Lafayette Greek community and friends have come together in support of 21-year-old UL student and Rayne native Andrew Abshire, who was killed on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in an early morning automobile accident on Johnston Street after his vehicle struck a utility pole and then a residence. Abshire is survived by his young daughter, Amelia Roberts, who thanks to online community funding efforts will one day have access to a college fund established in her name in honor of her late father.
The Go Fund Me campaign was started by a friend and fraternity brother of Abshire, Stuart Theriot, and several other Kappa Sigma alumni with intentions of raising $10,000 to assist with future needs of Amelia. But in less than 24 hours of establishing the site, Theriot and friends spread the word across the state with the help of social media and surpassed the goal.
Now the group is hoping to meet a second goal of $20,000. Read more about the efforts and how you can donate. "We plan to raise as much money as we possibly can over the next month or two. ... All the donations will be put into a trust fund set up solely for Amelia's future education," said Theriot.
A candlelight vigil was held Wednesday, Jan. 22, on UL's campus at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house - Greeks from all chapters at UL showed up to respect friend and brother lost. "He was a genuinely special guy that always brought a smile to everyone's face and loved every single second of life. Andrew was uplifting, easygoing and kind-hearted and will be endlessly missed by myself and everyone else whose lives he touched," said Eric Gillespie, friend of Abshire and former Kappa Sigma president.
Final visitations and funeral arrangements have been made at Gossen Funeral Home in Rayne and service details can be found online.