Antwonette Wynn, the mother of Anjalia Drake, remembers her daughter as a beautiful child who always had a smile on her face.
The 11-year-old drowned Sunday evening in a borrow pit near the Country Manor mobile-home park in Long County. She was swimming with friends at the time.
“She was very outgoing and was always nice to everyone,” Wynn said.
The victim was a sixth-grader at Long County Middle School, where faculty expressed concern for the family and other students.
“We are offering counseling to any student who wishes to talk about this or has any questions about dealing with this tragedy,” school counselor Katie Lee said Wednesday. “We also have told the teachers to be extra sensitive should they notice any student who might be having a hard time dealing with it.”
Lee said LCMS Assistant Principal Debbie Wingate visited Anjalia Drake’s grandmother Wednesday to check on the family and to offer assistance.
Lee said that in addition to the students being affected by this tragedy, several teachers also are upset.
“My services are available to any student, but also to any teacher or adult who is having a hard time dealing with this,” she said.
Besides being a student, Wynn said her daughter was active in her church and its youth group.
“She loved dancing and singing,” Wynn said.
The family is asking for help with expenses and is accepting donations in a Wells Fargo bank account set up in its Hinesville branch under Antwonette Wynn’s name.

Lewis Levine and Mike Riddle contributed to this story.