Elizabeth Bryan, 18, died Thursday, June 27, 1996 and Jennifer Bryan, 16, died Friday, June 28, 1996, as the result of an automobile accident. Elizabeth, born April 1, 1978 and Jennifer, born December 4, 1979 in Lexington, were the daughters of Ernest Ewing Bryan and Charlotte Lyn Slone Stewart. The sisters were students at Mercer County High School and members of Bethel Baptist Church and the church youth group. Jennifer, a Junior, was a member of Mercer High School cheerleaders and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Elizabeth, a Senior, was an employee of Lee's Famous Recipe. Survivors include: their mother, Charlotte Lyn Stewart, Harrodsburg; their father, Ernest Ewing Bryan, Lexington; maternal grandmother, Obera Slone, Nicholasville; paternal grandparents, James P. and Elizabeth Mae Bryan, Lexington, three sisters, Ginger Stewart, Frankfort, Stephanie and Glenda Stewart, both of Mercer County; their step father, Stanley Glenn Stewart; step mother, Paulette Bryan; step grandmother, Juanita Redford, Liberty; step grandmother, Reva Stewart, Salvisa. Joint services were held Tuesday, July 2 at the Mercer County High School Gym with the Rev. John Cato, Rev. Sidney Bates, Rev. Lester Tirey and Rev. Jack Geurin officiating. Pallbearers were Jason Devine, Clark Bugg, Michael and Robbie Phelps, Charles and Robert Tirey, Keith Hatter, Troy Grider, Paul Adrian Thompson, Russ Sanders, Callee Elam, Eric Harley, Tim Gray and Eric Moore. Honorary bearers were members of the Mercer County High School Cheerleading Squad. Memorials are suggested to the Bethel Baptist Church or Cemetery Fund. Ransdell Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
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Community Suffers Loss Of Sisters In Car Wreck
Two Mercer County sisters lost their lives as a result of a car accident which occurred on the Bluegrass Parkway on Thursday afternoon. According to Anderson County Coroner Brian Ritchie, Elizabeth Bryan, 18, apparently lost control of the Nissan Stanza she was driving, while trying to avoid hitting some boxes that had fallen from a semi tractor-trailer. Ritchie said that officers at the scene stated that Elizabeth had been traveling in the westbound passing lane of the Parkway near mile marker 67 when she swerved off onto the inside edge of the roadway to avoid the boxes that had fallen from the rear of a truck carrying Trane air-conditioning filters. She then overcorrected and crossed back over the two lanes of traffic, colliding with the rear end of the tractor-trailer which was parked in the emergency lane, presumably due to the driver's effort to retrieve the fallen merchandise. Reports state that police received the emergency call to the accident scene at 4:01 p.m. Ritchie arrived at the scene at 4:40 p.m. where he pronounced Elizabeth dead. According to the coroner, she was killed instantly due to massive head trauma and internal injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Elizabeth's younger sister, Jennifer, 16, was a passenger in the car. She also received severe injuries and was transported by helicopter to the UK Medical Center, where she died on Friday, June 28. Elizabeth and Jennifer are the daughters of Ernest Bryan of Lexington and Charlotte Stewart of Harrodsburg. Both girls attended Mercer County High School where Jennifer was a cheerleader. She would have been a junior this fall and Elizabeth would have been a senior. "Elizabeth had the most beautiful smile I've ever seen," said Mercer County High School Guidance Counselor Allen Shewmaker, who knew both girls. "She always seemed to put the needs of others before her own; helping to care for her younger siblings, taking them where they needed to go. She had a much quieter personality than Jennifer, but both were wonderful girls. They're going to be very missed." Elizabeth's boyfriend of two years, Chris Noel, said it was her sweetness and concern for others that he will carry with him. "She was a very special person who was loving and caring," said Noel, "...and that's how I will always remember her." Jennifer's boyfriend, Russell Jenkins, said after learning Jennifer had survived the initial accident, he had clung to the hope that she would pull through somehow. The loss to him has been "...devastating." Jennifer was a three-year member of the Mercer County High School Boys Varsity Cheerleading Squad. According to the squad sponsor, Trish Russell, she was the morale leader on the team. "Jennifer was a member of the first team to compete in the state finals and also on the first team to attend national competition," said Russell. "She was always the one that pumped everyone up and got spirit going. She could always make them smile. We're a very close family on this squad and we loved Jennifer dearly. We will all miss her so much." Mercer County Principal Chuck Stallard said the loss of the two Bryan girls was a "tragedy both for our school and our community." "The girls were both unique individuals," said Stallard, "but both were caring people with sweet spirits. I hope that my own daughter grows up to have their same loving personalities and zeal for life." The sisters were both members of the Bethel Baptist Church Youth Group. Elizabeth was employed by Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Harrodsburg. A visitation service was held for the girls on Monday evening at the Mercer High School gymnasium. According to Shewmaker, having the service at the school was a tremendous help to the many students who are devastated by the loss of their two classmates. "I think it really helped the students to be able to pay their respects to Elizabeth and Jennifer in an environment that was familiar to all of them," said Shewmaker. "We have provided counseling as needed, and there were several youth ministers present to provide support as well." Shewmaker also said Ransdell Funeral Chapel provided all the students attending with memory sheets upon which to write their own personal recollections of the girls. Those sheets will be collected and bound together and presented to the family for a remembrance. Stallard expressed his appreciation to the many members of the school community who have banded together to support both the family and the friends of Elizabeth and Jennifer. Funeral services for the Bryan sisters were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at the MCHS gym. Burial was in the Bethel Baptist Cemetery.
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Community Suffers Loss Of Sisters In Car Wreck
Two Mercer County sisters lost their lives as a result of a car accident which occurred on the Bluegrass Parkway on Thursday afternoon. According to Anderson County Coroner Brian Ritchie, Elizabeth Bryan, 18, apparently lost control of the Nissan Stanza she was driving, while trying to avoid hitting some boxes that had fallen from a semi tractor-trailer. Ritchie said that officers at the scene stated that Elizabeth had been traveling in the westbound passing lane of the Parkway near mile marker 67 when she swerved off onto the inside edge of the roadway to avoid the boxes that had fallen from the rear of a truck carrying Trane air-conditioning filters. She then overcorrected and crossed back over the two lanes of traffic, colliding with the rear end of the tractor-trailer which was parked in the emergency lane, presumably due to the driver's effort to retrieve the fallen merchandise. Reports state that police received the emergency call to the accident scene at 4:01 p.m. Ritchie arrived at the scene at 4:40 p.m. where he pronounced Elizabeth dead. According to the coroner, she was killed instantly due to massive head trauma and internal injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Elizabeth's younger sister, Jennifer, 16, was a passenger in the car. She also received severe injuries and was transported by helicopter to the UK Medical Center, where she died on Friday, June 28. Elizabeth and Jennifer are the daughters of Ernest Bryan of Lexington and Charlotte Stewart of Harrodsburg. Both girls attended Mercer County High School where Jennifer was a cheerleader. She would have been a junior this fall and Elizabeth would have been a senior. "Elizabeth had the most beautiful smile I've ever seen," said Mercer County High School Guidance Counselor Allen Shewmaker, who knew both girls. "She always seemed to put the needs of others before her own; helping to care for her younger siblings, taking them where they needed to go. She had a much quieter personality than Jennifer, but both were wonderful girls. They're going to be very missed." Elizabeth's boyfriend of two years, Chris Noel, said it was her sweetness and concern for others that he will carry with him. "She was a very special person who was loving and caring," said Noel, "...and that's how I will always remember her." Jennifer's boyfriend, Russell Jenkins, said after learning Jennifer had survived the initial accident, he had clung to the hope that she would pull through somehow. The loss to him has been "...devastating." Jennifer was a three-year member of the Mercer County High School Boys Varsity Cheerleading Squad. According to the squad sponsor, Trish Russell, she was the morale leader on the team. "Jennifer was a member of the first team to compete in the state finals and also on the first team to attend national competition," said Russell. "She was always the one that pumped everyone up and got spirit going. She could always make them smile. We're a very close family on this squad and we loved Jennifer dearly. We will all miss her so much." Mercer County Principal Chuck Stallard said the loss of the two Bryan girls was a "tragedy both for our school and our community." "The girls were both unique individuals," said Stallard, "but both were caring people with sweet spirits. I hope that my own daughter grows up to have their same loving personalities and zeal for life." The sisters were both members of the Bethel Baptist Church Youth Group. Elizabeth was employed by Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Harrodsburg. A visitation service was held for the girls on Monday evening at the Mercer High School gymnasium. According to Shewmaker, having the service at the school was a tremendous help to the many students who are devastated by the loss of their two classmates. "I think it really helped the students to be able to pay their respects to Elizabeth and Jennifer in an environment that was familiar to all of them," said Shewmaker. "We have provided counseling as needed, and there were several youth ministers present to provide support as well." Shewmaker also said Ransdell Funeral Chapel provided all the students attending with memory sheets upon which to write their own personal recollections of the girls. Those sheets will be collected and bound together and presented to the family for a remembrance. Stallard expressed his appreciation to the many members of the school community who have banded together to support both the family and the friends of Elizabeth and Jennifer. Funeral services for the Bryan sisters were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at the MCHS gym. Burial was in the Bethel Baptist Cemetery.
Elizabeth Bryan, 18, died Thursday, June 27, 1996 and Jennifer Bryan, 16, died Friday, June 28, 1996, as the result of an automobile accident. Elizabeth, born April 1, 1978 and Jennifer, born December 4, 1979 in Lexington, were the daughters of Ernest Ewing Bryan and Charlotte Lyn Slone Stewart. The sisters were students at Mercer County High School and members of Bethel Baptist Church and the church youth group. Jennifer, a Junior, was a member of Mercer High School cheerleaders and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Elizabeth, a Senior, was an employee of Lee's Famous Recipe. Survivors include: their mother, Charlotte Lyn Stewart, Harrodsburg; their father, Ernest Ewing Bryan, Lexington; maternal grandmother, Obera Slone, Nicholasville; paternal grandparents, James P. and Elizabeth Mae Bryan, Lexington, three sisters, Ginger Stewart, Frankfort, Stephanie and Glenda Stewart, both of Mercer County; their step father, Stanley Glenn Stewart; step mother, Paulette Bryan; step grandmother, Juanita Redford, Liberty; step grandmother, Reva Stewart, Salvisa. Joint services were held Tuesday, July 2 at the Mercer County High School Gym with the Rev. John Cato, Rev. Sidney Bates, Rev. Lester Tirey and Rev. Jack Geurin officiating. Pallbearers were Jason Devine, Clark Bugg, Michael and Robbie Phelps, Charles and Robert Tirey, Keith Hatter, Troy Grider, Paul Adrian Thompson, Russ Sanders, Callee Elam, Eric Harley, Tim Gray and Eric Moore. Honorary bearers were members of the Mercer County High School Cheerleading Squad. Memorials are suggested to the Bethel Baptist Church or Cemetery Fund. Ransdell Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
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Community Suffers Loss Of Sisters In Car Wreck
Two Mercer County sisters lost their lives as a result of a car accident which occurred on the Bluegrass Parkway on Thursday afternoon. According to Anderson County Coroner Brian Ritchie, Elizabeth Bryan, 18, apparently lost control of the Nissan Stanza she was driving, while trying to avoid hitting some boxes that had fallen from a semi tractor-trailer. Ritchie said that officers at the scene stated that Elizabeth had been traveling in the westbound passing lane of the Parkway near mile marker 67 when she swerved off onto the inside edge of the roadway to avoid the boxes that had fallen from the rear of a truck carrying Trane air-conditioning filters. She then overcorrected and crossed back over the two lanes of traffic, colliding with the rear end of the tractor-trailer which was parked in the emergency lane, presumably due to the driver's effort to retrieve the fallen merchandise. Reports state that police received the emergency call to the accident scene at 4:01 p.m. Ritchie arrived at the scene at 4:40 p.m. where he pronounced Elizabeth dead. According to the coroner, she was killed instantly due to massive head trauma and internal injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Elizabeth's younger sister, Jennifer, 16, was a passenger in the car. She also received severe injuries and was transported by helicopter to the UK Medical Center, where she died on Friday, June 28. Elizabeth and Jennifer are the daughters of Ernest Bryan of Lexington and Charlotte Stewart of Harrodsburg. Both girls attended Mercer County High School where Jennifer was a cheerleader. She would have been a junior this fall and Elizabeth would have been a senior. "Elizabeth had the most beautiful smile I've ever seen," said Mercer County High School Guidance Counselor Allen Shewmaker, who knew both girls. "She always seemed to put the needs of others before her own; helping to care for her younger siblings, taking them where they needed to go. She had a much quieter personality than Jennifer, but both were wonderful girls. They're going to be very missed." Elizabeth's boyfriend of two years, Chris Noel, said it was her sweetness and concern for others that he will carry with him. "She was a very special person who was loving and caring," said Noel, "...and that's how I will always remember her." Jennifer's boyfriend, Russell Jenkins, said after learning Jennifer had survived the initial accident, he had clung to the hope that she would pull through somehow. The loss to him has been "...devastating." Jennifer was a three-year member of the Mercer County High School Boys Varsity Cheerleading Squad. According to the squad sponsor, Trish Russell, she was the morale leader on the team. "Jennifer was a member of the first team to compete in the state finals and also on the first team to attend national competition," said Russell. "She was always the one that pumped everyone up and got spirit going. She could always make them smile. We're a very close family on this squad and we loved Jennifer dearly. We will all miss her so much." Mercer County Principal Chuck Stallard said the loss of the two Bryan girls was a "tragedy both for our school and our community." "The girls were both unique individuals," said Stallard, "but both were caring people with sweet spirits. I hope that my own daughter grows up to have their same loving personalities and zeal for life." The sisters were both members of the Bethel Baptist Church Youth Group. Elizabeth was employed by Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Harrodsburg. A visitation service was held for the girls on Monday evening at the Mercer High School gymnasium. According to Shewmaker, having the service at the school was a tremendous help to the many students who are devastated by the loss of their two classmates. "I think it really helped the students to be able to pay their respects to Elizabeth and Jennifer in an environment that was familiar to all of them," said Shewmaker. "We have provided counseling as needed, and there were several youth ministers present to provide support as well." Shewmaker also said Ransdell Funeral Chapel provided all the students attending with memory sheets upon which to write their own personal recollections of the girls. Those sheets will be collected and bound together and presented to the family for a remembrance. Stallard expressed his appreciation to the many members of the school community who have banded together to support both the family and the friends of Elizabeth and Jennifer. Funeral services for the Bryan sisters were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at the MCHS gym. Burial was in the Bethel Baptist Cemetery.
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Community Suffers Loss Of Sisters In Car Wreck
Two Mercer County sisters lost their lives as a result of a car accident which occurred on the Bluegrass Parkway on Thursday afternoon. According to Anderson County Coroner Brian Ritchie, Elizabeth Bryan, 18, apparently lost control of the Nissan Stanza she was driving, while trying to avoid hitting some boxes that had fallen from a semi tractor-trailer. Ritchie said that officers at the scene stated that Elizabeth had been traveling in the westbound passing lane of the Parkway near mile marker 67 when she swerved off onto the inside edge of the roadway to avoid the boxes that had fallen from the rear of a truck carrying Trane air-conditioning filters. She then overcorrected and crossed back over the two lanes of traffic, colliding with the rear end of the tractor-trailer which was parked in the emergency lane, presumably due to the driver's effort to retrieve the fallen merchandise. Reports state that police received the emergency call to the accident scene at 4:01 p.m. Ritchie arrived at the scene at 4:40 p.m. where he pronounced Elizabeth dead. According to the coroner, she was killed instantly due to massive head trauma and internal injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Elizabeth's younger sister, Jennifer, 16, was a passenger in the car. She also received severe injuries and was transported by helicopter to the UK Medical Center, where she died on Friday, June 28. Elizabeth and Jennifer are the daughters of Ernest Bryan of Lexington and Charlotte Stewart of Harrodsburg. Both girls attended Mercer County High School where Jennifer was a cheerleader. She would have been a junior this fall and Elizabeth would have been a senior. "Elizabeth had the most beautiful smile I've ever seen," said Mercer County High School Guidance Counselor Allen Shewmaker, who knew both girls. "She always seemed to put the needs of others before her own; helping to care for her younger siblings, taking them where they needed to go. She had a much quieter personality than Jennifer, but both were wonderful girls. They're going to be very missed." Elizabeth's boyfriend of two years, Chris Noel, said it was her sweetness and concern for others that he will carry with him. "She was a very special person who was loving and caring," said Noel, "...and that's how I will always remember her." Jennifer's boyfriend, Russell Jenkins, said after learning Jennifer had survived the initial accident, he had clung to the hope that she would pull through somehow. The loss to him has been "...devastating." Jennifer was a three-year member of the Mercer County High School Boys Varsity Cheerleading Squad. According to the squad sponsor, Trish Russell, she was the morale leader on the team. "Jennifer was a member of the first team to compete in the state finals and also on the first team to attend national competition," said Russell. "She was always the one that pumped everyone up and got spirit going. She could always make them smile. We're a very close family on this squad and we loved Jennifer dearly. We will all miss her so much." Mercer County Principal Chuck Stallard said the loss of the two Bryan girls was a "tragedy both for our school and our community." "The girls were both unique individuals," said Stallard, "but both were caring people with sweet spirits. I hope that my own daughter grows up to have their same loving personalities and zeal for life." The sisters were both members of the Bethel Baptist Church Youth Group. Elizabeth was employed by Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Harrodsburg. A visitation service was held for the girls on Monday evening at the Mercer High School gymnasium. According to Shewmaker, having the service at the school was a tremendous help to the many students who are devastated by the loss of their two classmates. "I think it really helped the students to be able to pay their respects to Elizabeth and Jennifer in an environment that was familiar to all of them," said Shewmaker. "We have provided counseling as needed, and there were several youth ministers present to provide support as well." Shewmaker also said Ransdell Funeral Chapel provided all the students attending with memory sheets upon which to write their own personal recollections of the girls. Those sheets will be collected and bound together and presented to the family for a remembrance. Stallard expressed his appreciation to the many members of the school community who have banded together to support both the family and the friends of Elizabeth and Jennifer. Funeral services for the Bryan sisters were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at the MCHS gym. Burial was in the Bethel Baptist Cemetery.
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