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Family, friends hold vigil on campus of ASU for hit-and-run victim

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The accident

By Richard Gould | Hickory Daily Record

Published: November 7, 2009

BOONE - Charlie Sybrant's friends and family members gathered on the campus of Appalachian State University on Friday night to celebrate the life of the 22-year-old, who authorities said was killed by a drunken driver in a hit-and-run accident.

The news that Sybrant had been killed while visiting her hometown during fall break came as a shock to her broad circle of friends at the ASU campus, said Whitney Mozingo, 21, of Hickory.

"It's hard to find someone here who didn't know her, especially in the housing department," she said.

Sybrant was struck and killed while walking beside the northbound on-ramp from Interstate 40 to U.S. 321 in the early morning hours of Oct. 18. She and her friend, Joshua Gajus, 24, of Hickory, were on foot because their car had run out of gas.

Dee Sybrant, who attended Friday's vigil, said her daughter's favorite color was pink and she wore a pink feather in her hair in her daughter's honor.

When the signal was given, those in attendance activated the bright pink glow sticks they wore on cords around their necks and began their Memorial Walk from Daughton Hall to Winkler Hall.

Students organized the walk.

"We wanted a way for the students to have closure and to come together," Mozingo said.

Sybrant's parents, grandparents and sister led the procession on a meandering route through the campus that had become Sybrant's home.

A Hickory native, Sybrant graduated from Hickory High School with honors in 2005. On Mother's Day of this year she graduated with honors with a degree in criminal justice.

When she was killed she was studying for her master's degree in criminology.

She was well-known at ASU for her work as a resident assistant and a resident director in the dorms.

When she lost her life, she was the RD of Winkler Hall, where she supervised seven RAs and was responsible for 128 students in her dormitory, said ASU Safety and Security Coordinator David Shervington.

Sybrant's friends and family shared their memories of her as they walked across the campus.

"She was the hardest worker — she never gave up. She was one of the best people I've ever known," said Charlie's father, Michael Sybrant, of Hickory.

"She had a heart as big as she was. She always had a kind word and a shoulder to cry on for anyone who needed it," said Charlie's mother, Dee Sybrant of Hickory.

"She was like Jimminy Cricket — she was everybody's conscience. She took care of everybody. It was good to see. It was very good to see," said Charlie's sister, Samantha Merritt, 24.

"It's really special to see how much these kids loved her," said Charlie's grandmother, Bonita Smith of Banner Elk.

"I miss her and I love her," said Charlie's cousin, Kaylee Smith.

"Charlie was just a vibrant person — you feel like it's wrong to cry because she was just so wonderful," said Catherine Port, 20, of Asheville.

"She was very much the motivator of the hall and the building. If she saw us out here, she'd probably tell us we should be studying," said Stacy Covington, 22, of Winston-Salem.

"She could automatically put a smile on your face," said Cheryl Lable, 19, of Asheville. "She was perfect for Appalachian and we'll never forget her."