Candlelight Vigil Held for Victims of Drunk Driving

The Peace and Justice Plaza on Franklin Street was glowing. The warm light of over 30 small candles illuminated the grieving faces of family and friends still mourning the loss of their loved ones.

“July 19th is a day that will forever be engraved in my memory,” said DeSeante Jones, the 28-year-old daughter of Darlene McGee. “What it represents has been the pain of my existence. It pinpoints the exact time in my life that I would no longer have my mother to share it with.”

McGee was one of the three people killed by former UNC student Chandler Kania in a drunk driving accident last year.

Jones addressed the group with a picture of her mother on her right, and a picture of the burned and crippled car, on her left.

“The reason why we gather today is because some individuals choose to drink and then get behind the wheel – simple as that – leaving everyone on the road at their mercy.”

Crying in the background was her son, Lashawn. As a mother, Jones had a message for parents.

“Parents do not consider college drinking a right of passage. If you see your children with a fake ID please confiscate it. If you’re paying a credit card bill and see charges from a bar or nightclub, please ask questions or even refuse to pay. It’s our duty as parents to steer our children in the right direction.”

Jones and the rest of her family are advocating for more awareness about drunk driving, including Kimberly Faison, a cousin to McGee and Jones.

“Make sure you have a driver, or call a cab or Uber,” Faison said. “There are so many resources now for people not to be on the road. It’s smart and safe just to use the resources that are available.”

Faison and her husband Alex helped to coordinate the gathering and made t-shirts for family members that read #JusticeforDarleneMcGee. Faison said it was the family’s way of supporting Jones.

“I think the turnout was really nice and I think that it might have been a little – not closure because she will never have closure – but a little healing to her closure that will help her to move forward.”

Other community members are having trouble moving forward, including local resident Donna Howard.

“Why in the world are there three people dead, a family that’s grieving and a boy drinking underage driving down the wrong side of the highway, at home resting comfortably in his bed?” Howard said. “Who let that happen?”

With several weeks until Kania’s next court date, Jones asked the group to continue conversations about the case and spread their plea for justice. She said the court’s decision will have a major impact on local high school and UNC students.

“This case is under the scrutiny of so many young individuals and I’m afraid that if this man is not punished, it will set the tone that others can commit the same crimes and not be held accountable for their actions,” Jones said.

Members of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving passed out red ribbons that said “Don’t drink and drive.” Among them was Sandra Dockery, who offered her condolences to the McGee family, using the candles they were holding as a symbol of resilience.

“The candle that we will hold symbolizes remembrance of the past and hope for the future.”

As the vigil ended and the smoke from the candles curled up towards the sky, the crowd slowly dispersed. Dusk fell over the family as they collected the pictures and candles, but their soft Gospel music continued to play across plaza and reach out into the night.