Crash tragedy family laid to rest

Outside, the Heavens were crying. Inside, it was a celebration of the lives of Wayne Pride-Hicks, 44, wife Natalie (Keisha), 35, Wayne Jr., 10, and Natalia, 3, killed in a fatal crash on Friday, May 22 in North Carolina.
The Jamaica family had been driving to a first-time meeting with Leroy Rumph, his biological father, when the tragedy occurred.
Three children – Elijah, 8; John, 7; and Josiah, 5 – survived the crash.
On Thursday, May 28, the Community Church of Christ in Jamaica was filled to overflowing with family, friends, classmates and community members who worshipped, prayed and remembered.
“We’re here to celebrate Keisha and Wayne,” said Pastor Owen Williams of St. Mark Baptist Church in Jamaica.
Offering the congregation his sincerest deepest condolences, Williams said he saw the family only the day before the tragedy.
“They were excited, they were in good spirits. Who knew, 13 hours later . . .”
Maureen LoRe, Principal of P.S. 50, which the children attended, then moved those in attendance with her words.
“It has been a devastating loss for our school,” she said. “[In the midst of death] I saw kindness and caring. I saw little children showing happiness and laughter because their classmate [John] was going to be OK. I saw people coming together in grief and reaching out to each other as they should every day. I pray that good will toward each other continues.”
LoRe then read a poem written by John.
Mom is nice
Mom is helpful
Mom takes care of me
Mom takes me to school
Mom loves me
“And she always will,” ended LoRe.
The church has set up a web site, www.HicksFund.org, “to help support the Hicks children and their future education.”
“There are three funds set up by the church that will help greatly support these efforts. They are the funeral expense fund, children’s expense fund, and 529 college savings fund,” reads the site. “Please find it in your heart to lend your support with a generous donation.”