Church Remembers Teen Killed In Crash

In the days since 17-year-old Allyson Faulk died in a car crash, the community that loved her has rallied around her grieving family.

"There's been a steady stream of support," her godmother, Karen Heinberg, said. "It's clear that Ally was a very loved young woman."

At Christ the King Catholic Church this morning, Monsignor Desmond Daly crafted his homily around Allyson's death. Her family, longtime members of the congregation, was busy making funeral arrangements and missed the 9 a.m. Mass. But family members were touched by the gesture, Heinberg said.

Allyson, a senior at Plant High School, lost control of a Ford Expedition about 6:30 p.m. Friday while driving northbound on Interstate 75, near Gainesville. The Expedition hit several trees and caught on fire, killing Faulk and injuring the three friends riding with her: Lizzy Mischo, 18, Kristen Hurst, 17, and Karlyn McKell, 17.

The girls were on their way to Tallahassee to watch Florida State University play Boston College Saturday night, friends said.

Daly related Sunday's scriptures - about how the unexpected can happen at any time and how one shouldn't hide one's talents - to the tragic turn of events.

As the Faulk family struggles with the loss of "a child who had lots of natural gifts," Daly urged parishioners to be their strength by using their God-given gifts of faith, hope and love.

"This is where community comes in," Daly said. "It's us, praying for and doing all we can to help this family. ... You are not in darkness; even in the deepest darkness, there is light."

Faulk's funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry Highway. In lieu of flowers, the Faulk family requests donations to the Plant High School Zeta Service Club or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Center, 5959 Central Ave., No. 202, St. Petersburg FL 33710.

Editor's note: A previous online edition listed an incorrect time for Allyson Faulk's funeral.