‘Celebrating her life’: Cheerful high school friend remembered

Instead, she was remembered at the Orangeburg High School for Health Professions with a balloon release.

Fludd and her cousin Ania Chalk, 8, were killed Saturday afternoon while they were attempting to cross U.S. Highway 601 on a 2020 Kawasaki ATV.

They were struck by a tractor-trailer, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Fludd was a junior at the High School for Health Professions. Chalk was a student at the Willie Jeffries School of Excellence.

Prayers were offered and memories were shared during Tuesday’s balloon release ceremony held by the Student Government Association.

Jayden Skinner, a student, served as master of ceremonies.

KeAsha Robinson, a student, welcomed and thanked her peers.

“We are gathered here today to remember the life of Jada Fludd, an amazing human being who was so full of joy,” she said.

“Being here without her, without her light, and warm embrace, is almost unbearable at times. And though our grief may become easier to carry with time, for all of us, it will be impossible to look up at the sky from now on without thinking of her,” Robinson added.

Marcus Claxton, a student, offered a prayer at the start of the ceremony.

“Thank you, God, for the life that you’ve given us. Most of all, we thank you for the life of Jada Fludd,” Claxton prayed.

“In spite of our feelings and in spite of everything that we’re feeling this moment, God we just want to thank you for life,” he continued.

“I pray that you will give everyone strength, God, that may be grieving. Wipe away tears from their eyes, in the name of Jesus. Lord, then guide them and direct them into the way you want them to go,” Claxton prayed.

Another student, Lyric Smith, offered a eulogy.

“My friend, Jada, was a very cheerful person. There weren’t many times that you would see her without a bright smile on her face,” Smith said.

“Jada was also a very positive person who always had a positive outlook in any situation. Her smartness and intelligence were unmatched!” she added.

“She took pride in her schoolwork. As hard as she worked, she went just as hard as she played,” Smith said.

With a warm laugh, she added, “Jada was very childish, but in a fun way. She loved playing Roblox, making TikTok videos and dancing with her dance group, Royal Dynasty.”

“Jada was very caring and dependable. She was always there should anyone ever need her. It didn’t matter to Jada who you were, where you came from or who you might have voted for, she was always willing to lend a helping hand, give you her time and help, words of advice or a listening ear,” Smith said.

“Those who knew Jada well would agree that she wouldn’t want to see us cry today. She’d want this to be a celebration, one with a lot of love and smiles. The love she showed each of us is something that will always live on and it can give us strength until we meet again,” she added.

“Today we can find a little bit of happiness in all of the wonderful memories of the moments we spent with Jada. Every time she sat next to us, she gave us a hug or a handshake, offered some words of wisdom or advice on life, or kept us laughing with an unexpected joke,” Smith said.

Student Bryce Robinson led students and staff in a moment of silence.

“Let us take a moment to remember her and all of those crazy and joyful memories that will make us miss her most,” he said.

High School for Health Professions Early College Coordinator Rahn Scott read a poem written for Fludd.

Deshawn Lambright, a student, told of the meaning behind the balloon release.

He noted that the balloon release symbolizes letting go, sending prayers to heaven, celebrating life and ascension.

With a bundle of blue and gold balloons, held high with white strings, student Laila Sumpter said, “On the count of three, release the balloons into the air. Every balloon represents a beautiful memory for this wonderful human being that was so loved by us all.”

Sumpter counted confidently, “One! Two! Three! We love you, Jada!” and balloons soared out of sight against the backdrop of a perfectly blue sky with a bright afternoon sun.

Student Tyleah Owens said, “Jada’s absence from our day-to-day lives will always be difficult. We’ll never forget her. That kind of love never leaves and I know we’ll always remember her with the deepest love and a smile.”

“Her memory will live on in each of us,” Owens said.

Jordan Avinger, a student, turned the remainder of the ceremony over to school administrators.

After the ceremony, licensed marriage and family therapist Nakisha Randolph spoke about the counseling services provided to students.

Randolph is one of the additional counselors on campus to help students following Fludd’s death.

“We’ve been working since Saturday, when this happened,” Randolph said.

“We’ve been mobilizing, strategizing and planning the best resources and support that we can offer to the students here,” she said.

She said students are experiencing, “Overwhelming sadness. They are kind of still in shock and disbelief that this happened to such an energetic, happy and soulful person.”

She and other counselors are encouraging students to know it’s OK to cry and express emotions.

“There is no magic pill or formula, it’s just something that you have to work through,” Randolph said.

Randolph said some coping strategies include:

• “Talking about it. Share feelings and emotions. Talk to someone you trust.”

• “Get up for a walk if you’re feeling like your head is a little foggy with thoughts or questions that can’t be answered.”

• “Remember great memories.”

• “Support each other.”

High School for Health Professions Principal Derwin Farr said in an interview that students “are struggling processing the loss of Jada. She’s a wonderful student, wonderful friend, Early College student. She’s well-liked here at the school, so they are really struggling right now, but we’re trying to bring them together as one family.”

Farr said there are about 500 students at the school.

“Today is a little better day because we’re celebrating her birthday and celebrating her life. Yesterday was real hard, but I think we gave them a day to process (grief) at the memorial service we had on yesterday and the balloon release just kind of brought them together,” Farr said.

“As you saw, everyone was wearing blue, which was her favorite color,” he added.

He said students were allowed to wear blue on Tuesday, instead of their usual daily wear of medical-type scrubs.

Farr noted that school employees are having a difficult time.

“Staff is really taking it hard, you know. We’re a small staff here, so Jada touched all of the staff here,” he said.

Fludd entered the school when she was a freshman and was currently in her junior year.

“We’re really monitoring staff. The staff needs the support just like the students,” he said.

Farr and others sometimes called Fludd “The Cookie Monster.”

“She’d get cookies every day. She wouldn’t eat lunch, but she definitely was going to get cookies,” he said smiling.

Fludd had dreams of becoming an anesthesiologist, Farr said.

She had a 5.005 grade point average and already earned 27.5 credits.

“She could’ve graduated from high school early,” Farr said. “She was on track to get an associate’s degree.”

Farr said additional counselors will remain on campus next week too.

“We’re here for our students 24/7,” he added.

“You know, the hard …” Farr began to say, interrupted by his grief, taking a few seconds to gather his composure as a tears swelled in his eyes.

“You know the hardest part about doing this job is students when they pass on,” he said.

“The rewarding part is seeing them walk across the stage. The hardest part is when you have a student to pass. It just feels like one of your own,” he added.

“Just keep the Warrior family in your prayers,” Farr said.