Tusculum University will hold a memorial service Monday, December 8, at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the life of a student and mourn his passing away in a car accident.
The service in memory of Payton Cook, a 19-year-old freshman who died Friday, December 5, will be held in Pioneer Arena. The Rev. E.J. Swatsell, director of spiritual life and special projects will lead the service, which is still in the planning stages. The community is invited to attend.
JIM WOZNIAK
“Payton’s passing has impacted his family immensely, and it has left a big hole in the hearts of everyone at Tusculum,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “Our desire is for this service to provide a measure of comfort to his family and to help our students, faculty and staff cope with this loss of life. Having the community join us for this service will be extremely meaningful. This has been devastating for all of us, but we find encouragement in Psalm 46:1 – ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’”
Cook, a business administration major and men’s lacrosse team member, came to Tusculum from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. Mike Brisbin, the men’s lacrosse coach, described Cook as a gentle giant – a good, genuine individual who was always smiling. He said everyone loved to be around this student. Cook enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was fishing with his fellow lacrosse players at Tusculum or hiking. Cook also collected Pokémon cards.
He passed away Friday in a car accident on Old Tusculum Road. Four other students were injured and are in various stages of recovery. None of the injuries is considered life-threatening.
They were:
18-year-old Hagan Hunter Windsor, from West Virginia
18-year-old Brandon Newsom of Oklahoma
18-year-old Jordan York of South Carolina, and
19-year-old Nathan Desouza of California.
Several Tusculum leaders and staff members responded to the scene and to the hospital to provide support to the surviving members of the accident and speak with their family members. Dr. Hummel and Swatsell have spoken with Cook’s family as well.
The Office of Student Affairs and the Human Resources Department have mobilized to help students, faculty and staff process their emotions in the aftermath of the accident. Counseling services are available to all Tusculum family members.
Tusculum remembered Cook with a moment of silence at the start of the men’s basketball game Saturday, Dec. 6, and will repeat the measure at the beginning of the women’s basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Tusculum University Community Chorus will also hold a moment of silence at its concert Monday, Dec. 8, in Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center.
Tusculum will still hold final exams starting Dec. 8 but will make accommodations for those directly affected by the accident. The university has canceled the President’s Midnight Breakfast, which was scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 7.
Out of respect for the privacy of Cook’s family and all individuals involved in the accident, Tusculum encourages people to avoid speculative posts on social media or other avenues.
“We are extremely grateful for all of the kind social media posts and other outreach we have received since the accident,” Dr. Hummel said. “Tusculum is proud to be part of the broader community and values our relationship with so many individuals, organizations and businesses. In times like this, that connection is particularly helpful.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.
