Lynzee Ford passes away days after school held special ceremony in her honor

theGRIO REPORT - A Texas teenager has passed away just days after her high school held an early graduation ceremony in her honor. Lynzee Ford, 17, was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year...

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A Texas teenager has passed away just days after her high school held an early graduation ceremony in her honor.

Lynzee Ford, 17, was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. Doctors recently told Ford she had only a few months to live. To make sure she experienced her graduation day, Kilgore High School staff and students arranged a special ceremony with Ford’s family and other officials.

Even the mayor showed up.

Ford passed away last Thursday night, some three days following her ceremony.

“The kids, they loved her and she loved them,” said Ford’s relative Alice Hunt. “She was the epitome of courage, strength; she loved life. God this hurts! This is killing me, but I know she’s in a better place.”

Ford’s softball coach Cheyenne Kirkpatrick said Ford had a definite impact on her teammates.

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“She always had a huge smile,” Kirkpatrick said. “[She] made everyone have a better day.”

Ford’s funeral services are scheduled for the Saturday. Her friends and family have created a Facebook page, ‘I Love Lynzee Project,’ which shares updates, photos and details of Ford’s life.

In addition, an online fundraiser was created in her memory. As of Tuesday morning, nearly $10,000 has been raised.

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