GREENSBORO, N.C. — A memorial is growing where a deadly car accident happened this past weekend in Greensboro.
On Saturday, Greensboro Police said a driver went off the road and crashed into a building on S. Spring Street. One of the passengers died. Police said that was 20-year-old Makieya Rae Smith.
Since the crash, the family said everything has been a blur, but Smith's mother said she has gained strength from knowing how loved her daughter was in our community.
"My daughter was a beyond amazing little girl. I say little girl, even though she was a young woman because she will always be my little girl," Smith's mother, Tremona Purvis said. "She was smart, she was vibrant, she was loving, she was caring, she was inspirational, she was motivated, she was a business owner, she was a college student, she was a granddaughter, she was a fiancé, she was a niece, a cousin, a friend to so many.”
Police said the car Smith was in crashed into the Philip J. Weaver Education Center. They said alcohol and speeding were factors in the crash.
"It was her birthday. It was Friday and we had had a beautiful birthday dinner and she was going to go out with some of her friends and we were like OK," Purvis said. "She said, 'Mommy, this is going to be my last birthday here in Winston,' but not knowing that this was really going to be her last birthday here with us."
Purvis said she is still processing what happened to her daughter.
"Detectives came here to the house, personally, and the doorbell rang, and I opened the door and I saw the Guilford County detectives and I immediately knew that something was wrong," Purvis said.
Purvis is remembering her daughter as a smart, loving, and caring young woman.
"Makieya was an angel here on earth and she touched so many lives," Purvis said.
Avis Sewell, Smith's grandmother shared her favorite quality Smith had.
“She loved the Lord and she loved people," Sewell said.
Others are remembering her too. A memorial at the site of the crash along South Spring Street is filled with candles, balloons, and other items to remember Smith.
"You never know when you're going to lose someone," Purvis said. "I never saw this coming and I want people to love, and do good and have joy."
As for the crash, Purvis said she hopes no other family will have to deal with the pain of losing a child.
“My message is, don’t drink and drive," Purvis said. "If you’ve been drinking, don’t get in that car to take that chance because this is the end result. And no mother, no grandmother, no fiancé, no aunt, no family, no father, they don’t want this. This pain is the worst pain that I will ever deal with in my life.”
Greensboro police said the investigation into the crash is still ongoing. A celebration of life is planned for Smith on Monday, July 12 at noon.