Beloved Lufkin Chamber Employee Passes Away in Car Accident
Nothing can ever prepare you for news like this. The news that a loved one, a co-worker, a friend, or family member has suddenly passed away.
Wednesday evening, Lufkin Police responded to a one-vehicle accident on Loop 287 in front of the Loving Nissan dealership. Officials reported it as a one-person fatality in which a woman driving a white Mercedes SUV left the roadway and struck a huge metal pole.
My first action was to contact some of the folks I know that work at the Loving Auto Group near the accident site. I wanted to make sure that they were okay. They told me that no one from the dealership was involved, but they did tell me that a woman perished in the accident.
This morning, I saw the tragic news from the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page. The Chamber's CFO, Jill Roberson (pictured top right), was the person that passed away in the accident.
My heart hurts for her family and her work family at the Chamber. Tara Watson Watkins, President and CEO of the Chamber, says that they are devastated by the loss of their dear friend. I was merely an acquaintance of Jill, having worked with her at several Chamber and Expo Center functions, but I remember her always working tirelessly to make sure these events were a success. Judging by the outpouring of heartfelt comments on the Chamber's social media outlets, it's obvious that Jill Roberson has the admiration and love of many East Texans.
Please keep Jill, her family and her friends in your heartfelt prayers.