It’s been over a week since Rickards High drum major Gavin Witmer and his mother Angelique Witmer were killed in a crash on the way to the Veterans Day Parade.
Now the Witmer family is asking the community for help to honor their legacy with a memorial scholarship.
“In honor of Angelique and Gavin’s memory and lifelong love of music, the Witmer family is organizing this fundraiser in the hope of establishing a memorial scholarship for talented seniors in the Rickards High School Marching Band,” the caption of a GoFundMe post says.
The fundraiser was organized by the Witmer family, including Mark Witmer, the surviving husband and father. It has already amassed $3,990 in just one day. The family’s goal is $30,000.
On the fundraiser’s page the family said if they reach their goal, they will collaborate with Rickards High and the Leon County School Board to establish the scholarship for future generations of students who resemble Gavin’s talent and ambition. If the goal is not reached, the family will set up a limited number of awards for exceptional band students.
More:‘We’ll never forget’: Tallahassee community gathers to honor Gavin and Angelique Witmer
Angelique, Gavin and his younger brother Hansel were headed to the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Tallahassee when a pickup truck crossed the median and crashed head-on into the sedan they were in. Angelique and Gavin died from their injuries.
Gavin was a top performing student both academically and literally in the marching band. He was a drum major and section leader of the tenor saxophones and had hopes of one day becoming a professional jazz musician after attending either Florida A&M University or Florida State.
Angelique was a supportive mother of her son’s dream to become a jazz musician and band director. She was also a staunch advocate for elder services. Her life’s work was dedicated to supporting senior citizens with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
The funeral for Angelique and Gavin will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, at Bevis Funeral Home.
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached atABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X:@AlaijahBrown3.
