Elijah Hawkins-Maynor, a college student from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who died in a car accident, has inspired his family to set up a scholarship foundation in his memory. The 22-year-old was a passenger in Nyasia Palmer’s car when she crashed.
“We wanted a scholarship in Elijah’s name that would help the next generation young people transitioning from high school to college,” Almer Reddick, Hawkins-Maynor’s stepfather, said.
Rahman Mateen, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, was also a passenger in the car. As a result of the crash, Mateen suffered severe injuries, while Palmer, who survived, is now facing second-degree murder charges, felony death by vehicle, two counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, speeding, failure to maintain lane control, reckless driving, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and driving while license revoked.
According to WRAL, the accident happened during the early morning of Oct. 5, when the car crashed and overturned. The vehicle slid sideways across a concrete median before crashing into a wooded area. Palmer was driving at 113 mph in a 45 mph zone. Four people were in the car, three of whom were ejected on impact. In addition to not knowing what happened while Palmer was driving, the Maynor family remains prayerful for everyone involved.
“Whatever was going on, we are praying for everyone that was in that car that was connected,” Craig Maynor, Hawkins-Maynor’s biological father, said. “Including the driver, the other passengers that were injured, and the driver’s family.”
“He played every position on the baseball field. We were just proud of him, man,” he continued.
The family described their son as a child of God who thrived in his studies and sports. He was known for always wearing a smile and was disciplined in school, maintaining a 3.7 GPA at UNC.
“Elijah loved God,” Rosalind Reddick, his mother, said.
He also carried a big smile and maintained a 3.7 GPA at UNC. Witnesses said Elijah was praying inside the car just before the vehicle crashed while wearing a shirt that said “Trust God” on it.
“As Christian parents, we did pray that we wanted him to accomplish goals,” Rosalind said. “The most important goal was for him to have a personal relationship with God, and at the end, he showed up.”
According to The Messenger, The Hawkins-Maynor family is collecting donations for the scholarship foundation through Cashapp at $Elijah2Paradise.
Palmer’s next court date is scheduled for Dec. 4.
