Ed White High School’s new Alaysha Williams Memorial Traffic Garden will teach students traffic safety.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly two years after 17-year-old Alaysha Williams was killed in a hit-and-run, her memory is being honored in a way that could help protect other students.
Williams, a standout athlete at Ed White High School, was struck by three drivers in September 2024 on Blanding Boulevard. Two drivers stayed on scene, while a third left and was later sentenced to house arrest. She played flag football and was a starter on the girls’ basketball team.
On April 1, the school will dedicate the Alaysha Williams Memorial Traffic Garden, a scaled-down roadway where students can learn traffic safety and build confidence on bikes away from real traffic.
Her mother, Tiereny Williams, says the support from family and the community has been a source of strength.
“I see now she’s everything to a lot of people, but she was my everything,” she said. “It was just mind-blowing to see that they are still letting her legacy live on.”
The school has continued to honor Alaysha’s memory since her death. In June 2025, Williams accepted her daughter’s diploma at graduation, and the school created a senior portrait and dedicated a page in the yearbook.
At the start of this school year, Ed White added reflective jackets to student uniforms to improve safety.
“I’m holding up as much as I can, with the help of everybody in the community still reaching out,” Tiereny Williams said. “Thank you everyone for all the love and support that I’ve received so far. It’s just been a blessing.”
The public is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the traffic garden at 10 a.m. at Ed White High School.
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