Date of Birth: May 21, 2009
Date of Death: August 22, 2022
Death by gunshot wound

REMEMBERED BY DARWIN ANTONIO EUCEDA (FATHER) AND NIRSAN ODALI CASTRO (MOTHER)

Abiel Euceda Castro enjoyed basketball, video games and school. Popular with students and
teachers alike, the Opportunity Academy 8th-grader came to the United States from Honduras when he was six years old. He struck up a friendship with a youngster named Dennis, who became his very best buddy. Abiel was a happy, special child, said his parents. And he believed in Santa Claus. When Abiel was 10 years old, he wrote a letter to Santa asking for a little brother. Soon after, baby Etan came along, and Abiel was certain Santa was real. “He thought [Etan] was a gift,” said mom Odali Castro. On August 22, 2022, Abiel died from a gunshot wound. In May of 2023, Opportunity Academy invited Abiel’s parents to attend what would have been their son’s graduation. There, students presented the couple with a booklet paying homage to the much-loved and much-missed Abiel.

Fecha de nacimiento: 21 de mayo de 2009
Fecha de defunción: 22 de agosto de 2022
Muerte por herida de bala

RECORDADO POR DARWIN ANTONIO EUCEDA (PADRE) Y NIRSAN ODALI CASTRO (MADRE)

Abiel Euceda Castro disfrutaba de el baloncesto, videojuegos y la escuela. Era igualmente popular entre entre alumnos y maestros. El estudiante de 8o grado de The Opportunity Academy, llegó a los Estados Unidos cuando tenia solo seis años de edad. Comenzó una amistad con un joven llamado Dennis y se convirtió en su mejor amigo. Abiel era un niño feliz y muy especial, dijeron sus padres. Y creía en Santa Claus. Cuando Abiel tenia 10 años, le escribió una carta a Santa pidiéndole un hermanito. Poco tiempo después nació Etan y Abiel creyó con certitud que Santa existía. “Creyó que [Etan] era un regalo”, dijo su madre Odali Castro. El 22 de Agosto 2022 Abiel murió por una herida de bala. En Mayo 2023, Opportunity Academy invitó a los padres de Abiel a la graduación que sería de su hijo. Ahí fue que los estudiantes les presentaron un cuaderno como homenaje a su muy querido y extrañado hijo.

Date of Birth: November 18, 2007
Date of Death: October 19, 2022
Death by car crash involving impaired driver

REMEMBERED BY VIDALIA HERNÁNDEZ (MOTHER)

Although only 14 years old, Nancy Choc Hernández had already decided on a career. She wanted to help people by becoming an interpreter. Born in Guatemala, Nancy had moved to the United States at the age of 10. By the time she was 12, her English-language skills were such that the teachers at Hunters Lane High School often allowed her to help others in her English as a Second Language (ESL) class. “She really liked English and liked other students who were ESL,” mom Vidalia Hernández Pérez said. Nancy spent a lot of time with her brother, who was seven years younger. Their mother worked long hours, and Nancy was tasked with caring for her younger sibling. A happy, smiling child, she loved everyone and never got upset about anything, which is how Ms. Hernández would like people to remember her daughter. Nancy died October 19, 2022, in a car crash, riding with a teen who was driving under the influence of alcohol. The tragedy occurred one month and one day before Nancy’s quinceañera, a cultural celebration that marks a girl’s passage into womanhood. She and her mom had already planned the party and bought the dress, which she wears in this photo.

Fecha de nacimiento: 18 de noviembre de 2007
Fecha de defunción: 19 de octubre de 2022
Muerte por choque vehicular con conductor alterado

RECORDADA POR VIDALIA HERNÁNDEZ (MADRE)

Aunque solo 14 años, Nancy Choc Hernández había ya decidido su carrera. Quería ayudar a gentle y convertirse en intérprete. Nacida en Guatemala, Nancy emigró a los Estados Unidos a los 10 años. A los 12 años, su habilidad para el inglés eran tales, que sus maestros en Hunter Lane High School le permitían ayudar a otros estudiantes en la clase de Inglés como segundo idioma (ESL). “Le gustaba mucho el inglés y los estudiantes de ESL”, su madre VIdalia…dijo. Nancy pasaba mucho tiempo con su hermano, que es siete años menor que ella. Su madre trabajaba largas horas y Nancy cuidaba de su hermano menor. Una niña feliz y siempre sonriente, amaba a todos y nunca se enojaba, y esta es la manera que la Sra Hernández quisiera que todos recordaran a su hija. Nancy murió el 19 de Octubre, 2022 en un choque vehicular, el adolescente que manejaba el auto estaba bajo la influencia del alcohol. La tragedia ocurrió un mes y un día antes de su quinceañera, una celebración cultural que marca el paso de una niña a mujer. Nancy y su madre ya habían planeado la fiesta y comprado el vestido, que podemos ver en esta foto.

Date of Birth: May 20, 2022
Date of Death: June 28, 2022
Death by abuse

REMEMBERED BY HALEY SUTPHIN (MOTHER)

Deacon Lane was on this earth for one month and 8 days. Even so, his little personality had already begun to form, and he knew exactly what he liked and did not like, according to mom Haley Sutphin. “He absolutely loved to cuddle up and fall asleep on my chest.” She added that he hated to have his diaper changed, so much so that he would kick to keep mom from changing him. One of his favorite things to do was to watch Criminal Minds with his mother. Deacon had a head full of chocolate-brown hair and was fondly referred to as “Li’l Man’ by his maternal grandfather and “Monkey” by his mom. On June 28, 2022, Deacon died from abuse while in the care of a sitter.

Date of Birth: March 3, 2005
Date of Death: May 6, 2022
Death by gunshot wound

REMEMBERED BY MASHARIE PIRTLE (MOTHER)

While still a young child, Dominic Pirtle sat at the feet of his “granny,” Nashville caterer Annie Langley, and learned to cook. It paid off. “Honeybun cake, earthquake cake, brownies – you name it, he could bake it,” mom MaSharie Pirtle said. Dominic was a family-oriented teen who loved to stay close to home and was not one to run the streets. He was a respectful child, according to his mother, always responding “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” to his elders. “He never gave me any trouble.” That paid off too. Dominic liked to help others. In fact, it was while he was trying to change a friend’s tire that he was shot and killed on May 6, 2022. A year later, in May 2023, Ms. Pirtle picked up her son’s high-school diploma from Bass Learning Center. She also accepted two certificates on his behalf, one a Culinary Arts certificate and the other a certificate recognizing him as “Most Respectful.”

Date of Birth: February 20, 2008
Date of Death: June 20, 2022
Death by stabbing

REMEMBERED BY EBONI RIDLEY (MOTHER) AND LARRY POWELL (FATHER)

Malia Powell was a smart, charismatic girl with a bright future ahead, her mother Eboni Ridley said. In the spring of 2022, the popular 14-year-old had finished her last year at Bellevue Middle School, where she was a cheerleader and very good at math. She was looking forward to the next chapter of her life as a freshman at Maplewood High School. Dad Larry Powell described Malia as the life of the party. “She loved to be around people, and people loved to be around her.” Malia was full of joy and kindness and wanted nothing but happiness and greatness for herself, family and friends, said her father. Her heart was full of gold, and nothing could get her down, he said, adding that “her spirit, joy and laughter will always remain here with us.” On June 20, 2022, the day before the official start of summer, Malia died from a stab wound.