Update: A celebration of life for Ms. Sloan was held in the Ezell Swang Chapel Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
Former Lipscomb University student Anastasia Sloan died in a highway accident late Monday night.
Ms. Sloan was driving on Interstate 40 West when her vehicle went off the right shoulder. She over-corrected and crossed both lanes of traffic before going into a guardrail. The vehicle overturned and rested in the middle of the road, and Ms. Sloan was ejected, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s report.
The report says she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
Ms. Sloan, 23, graduated from the university in May 2013 with a degree in organizational communication and public relations. She was also a member of the Pi Delta social club during her time as a student.
The university released a statement on Ms. Sloan’s passing, sharing their condolences to all impacted by the loss.
“The Lipscomb community is saddened by the sudden loss of alumna Anastasia Sloan, as we are with the loss of any of our alumni across the country and around the world,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends as they navigate this difficult time.”
Aerial Ellis, one of Ms. Sloan’s teachers, spoke to the kind of person she was.
“Anastasia was an awesome person,” Ellis said. “She was very bold and confident. I can always depend on her to be a leader and to stand out.
“She always had a heart for community, and she loved learning about public relations and was really excited about the career ahead for her, and she always brought great energy to the classroom, and she always had a great spirit about her when we interacted with each other.”
Kathryn McKinley, a fellow classmate of Ms. Sloan’s who also graduated in May 2013, says she will remember Ms. Sloan for her friendship.
“As a person, she was always willing to help other friends, had a very infectious smile, had a very distinct voice and laugh that everyone knew when she was coming, and she was probably one of my most truthful friends as well,” McKinley said. “She was always looking out for the best interest of her friends.”
McKinley noted that Ms. Sloan was getting ready to embark on a mission trip called the World Race later this year.
“It’s reassuring that I knew that her heart was in the right place – that I’ll see her one day,” McKinley said.
Ms. Sloan had spent time working at the Loveless Cafe, a popular Nashville restaurant.
“Our love and thoughts are with Anastasia Sloan’s family today, as she was such a meaningful part of ours,” the restaurant shared on its Twitter account Tuesday.
Jeremy Keck, another former classmate of Ms. Sloan, said in his sorrow he came upon a quote that reminded him of his late friend.
“Obviously, this has impacted so many people here in the Lipscomb community,” Keck said. “I read a quote, though, earlier today not too long after learning of the news that said, ‘When you love and laugh abundantly, you live a beautiful life,’ and I think that certainly applies to Anastasia because when I think of her, beyond just simple memories and stories, what comes to mind is just emotions with her.
“Like, I can always remember her probably smiling and laughing a lot and just having so much love through those whose path she crossed, and I know that that love was returned right back from her classmates.”
Photo courtesy of the Loveless Cafe.