Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence die in fatal Forest Park, Georgia car crash

Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence die in fatal Forest Park, Georgia car crash

Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence, parents to their 9-month-old son Zaire, were among three friends killed in a tragic car accident in Forest Park, Georgia, over the Memorial Day weekend. The couple, both alumni of Stillman College, were planning to marry before their lives were cut short in the crash that also claimed the life of current Stillman student Sieas Elliott.

The accident occurred on Friday, May 23, near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Old Dixie Road, according to Clayton County Police. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.

Gardner and Lawrence were devoted parents raising their infant son, Zaire, while building their futures together. Their families and friends now mourn the loss of two young lives filled with promise and love. Lawrence’s grandmother, Dot Mitchell, expressed the heartbreak of the family, saying, “We should be planning a wedding, not funerals.”

Both graduates of Stillman College, Gardner earned her degree in criminal justice in 2022 and worked as a juvenile officer at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center. Lawrence, a 2023 graduate, was deeply involved in baseball coaching in the Atlanta area and was a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Stillman College highlighted their ongoing engagement with the school and local community, noting how Gardner and Lawrence exemplified the spirit of the institution through their dedication and service.

The tragic deaths of Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence leave an irreplaceable void in the lives of their son Zaire, their families, and all who knew them. Their love and legacy will be remembered by the Stillman community and beyond.