DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – A Jacksonville high school is turning tragedy into a mission to save lives.
Community leaders and students gathered at Ed White High School to unveil a new memorial traffic garden, honoring the life of student athlete Alaysha Williams, who was killed in a hit-and-run traffic incident in September 2024.
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Her mother, Tierney Williams, spoke at the ribbon cutting about the pain of her loss — and her hope that no other family would have to experience the same.
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“I don’t want no parent to go through what I’ve had to go through this past year and a half, so I don’t want anybody to have to go through this pain,” Williams said.
From heartbreak to new beginnings
What started as heartbreak is now the beginning of something bigger.
The traffic garden at Ed White High School features real-life scenarios designed to teach students the rules of the road — from obeying traffic signals and traffic lights to stopping at stop signs. The hands-on space gives students a chance to practice navigating everyday traffic situations before they ever get behind the wheel.
The project was built through a partnership between Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, Duval County Public Schools and the City of Jacksonville Planning Department. Ed White High School was selected in part because the surrounding area has experienced a high number of traffic crashes.
Jacksonville’s traffic safety crisis
The need for programs like this one is urgent. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, more than 100 people have died in traffic accidents in Jacksonville in 2025 alone.
The traffic garden is part of the Jacksonville Vision Zero Action Plan, a citywide initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities. Its implementation at Ed White is a direct response to the danger students and community members face on local roads every day.
For the Williams family, the garden is more than a safety tool — it’s a living tribute to Alaysha and a reminder that her life continues to matter.