Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508070039
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Valerie Dawn Wade & Christina Elizabeth Shepherd = Best Friends Forever.
The girls were almost inseparable. They both went to Floyd County High School, played sports on the same teams and went to church together.
They had gone swimming with three friends Thursday afternoon and planned to spend the night at Christina's house in Copper Hill.
But around 5:30 p.m., on the way to Christina's house, the driver of the car lost control on U.S. 221 and crossed into oncoming traffic. Their car was struck head on.
Valerie, 16, of Floyd, died at the scene. Christina, 15, was flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she died three hours later.
Adam Harris, 16; Brian Fontaine, 15; and Chad King, 15, were injured in the accident. King remained in serious condition at Roanoke Memorial. Fontaine was in satisfactory condition. Harris, the driver, was released from the hospital Friday night.
The driver of the second vehicle, William Clayton Moran of Floyd County, also has been released from the hospital.
Floyd County High School administrators have set up a hotline to counsel students and provide funeral information. Students can call (540) 745-9450 at any time.
"Just to say they were like sisters would not be adequate," said the Rev. William Stovall, pastor of the Topeco Church of the Brethren, where Valerie was a member.
"Christina came to our church with Valerie," he said. "They were absolutely the best of friends."
In fact, Valerie's parents, Danny and Sonya Wade, said the two were "closer than most sisters could get."
Although the girls lived about 30 miles apart and phone calls were long-distance, it didn't stop them from spending most of their time together.
"One time we had a $9 telephone bill for one phone call," Sonya Wade said.
Christina "was just like another daughter to us," Danny Wade added.
Christina's parents, Henry "Johnny" and Carol Johnson, said they became just as attached to Valerie.
"Everyone in Floyd that knew them loved them," Johnny Johnson said.
Both girls were going into their junior year at Floyd County High School.
Pat Altizer taught both girls ninth-grade English. She also had Christina for eighth-grade English.
"Christina was very outgoing. She had a lot of friends," Altizer said.
Altizer remembers Valerie as being a little quieter but "an especially dedicated student."
Valerie and Christina played softball and volleyball for the school as well.
Valerie was expected to start this year on the varsity softball team, said Wes Starkey, athletic director at the high school and the girls' softball coach. "She would have more than likely started in left field."
Christina, who played on the junior varsity softball team last year, was expected to try out for the varsity team this year, he said.
"Both were good athletes," Starkey said. "They were very cooperative. They always seemed to be extremely happy."
"Bubbly personalities" is the description their volleyball coach, Anne Harman, offers. "They always had smiles on their faces," she said.
Valerie's funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Topeco Church of the Brethren. Christina's will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Wood Funeral Home.
"This was their way of being best friends forever," Sonya Wade said.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB