the Story

On October 3, 2009 Olivia Noel Ray along with her older sister Hannah and Hannah’s friend Mattie were on their way to run a one mile race as part of a health exposition sponsored by Arkansas Athletes Outreach. The Race started in the parking lot of the University of Arkansas Baseball stadium, exactly one mile from the Ray’s home. Anxious to get to the starting line, Olivia hopped to the front of the group that had begun to cross the crosswalk after a few cars had stopped to let the pedestrians pass. A driver coming from the South, distracted by the events beginning held in the parking lot, failed to stop at the crossing striking Olivia. Held and comforted by Hannah and others, Olivia was rushed to the hospital and passed away a few hours later, surrounded, loved and prayed for by her family.

Olivia was ten years, five months old the day of the accident.

This is a video of the memorial service for Olivia Noel Ray held on October 8, 2009, in Fayetteville, AR.