IRWINTON, Ga. — It was a somber but celebratory day. Hundreds gathered to honor the life of Tinetta Smith.
The Wilkinson County Middle School teacher was killed over the weekend in a car crash. Her boyfriend of 4 years, Coach Xavier Whipple was also in the car, but he survived.
Whipple's sister and Smith's former basketball teammate, Natalia Underwood, said Smith was loyal more than anything.
"She's a warrior through and through from the crown of her head to the sole of her feet," Underwood said.
Family, friends, former teammates and current players talked about Smith's loyalty to the Warriors and her energetic spirit.
Coach Whipple is officially in stable condition. He's got injuries to his rib cage, but he is opening his eyes and is on the mend. He and Smith were in a four-year relationship. Underwood believed there were no two people more perfect for each other.
"I've never met two people who had everything in common. They ate alike, they thought alike, they slept alike. They were just a good match," Underwood said.
One of her players for Wilkinson County, Malashia Fox, feels bad for people who didn't get to meet Coach Smith.
"She did it all. anything you needed she'd be there for you every step of the way," Fox said. "For y'all that didn't meet her, I hate it for y'all."