Latest news with #ANightofEnchantedElegance
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Service on Saturday for Homewood-Flossmoor student who died in post-prom crash
The life of the Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior killed in a post-prom crash on the Bishop Ford Freeway May 4 will be celebrated during a service on Saturday. Tom'mya Lyons, or TJ, was remembered by friend Ma'Kiyah Hammons Wednesday as a sweet girl who lit up any room she stepped foot in. 'She was telling everybody that they looked pretty — giving out compliments,' Hammons recalled of Lyons during their prom, which had the theme A Night of Enchanted Elegance. The prom was held from 8 p.m. to midnight the night before at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Lyons was killed around 4:30 a.m. after prom ended, the sole passenger in the vehicle that crashed on the Sibley Boulevard ramp northbound to Interstate 94. The crash remained under investigation Thursday with Illinois State Police reporting no new information. The 16-year-old male driver of the car was not injured, police said. Since Lyons' death, Hammons said school has felt 'weird.' She most notices Lyons' absence during passing periods, where the two would usually greet each other one the way to their classes. 'I feel like everybody at the school is just taking it slowly,' Hammons said. 'Everybody has some type of relationship with her. We'll always try to remember her every day.' Hammons said she met Lyons during their junior year, becoming close with her and her friend group quickly. She said when she heard the news of her death, she didn't believe it until she checked the location and called Lyons' best friend, who was at the hospital to see her. 'We were both just crying on the phone together,' Hammons said. Noralyn Rivera was hired by Lyons' family just hours ahead of prom to take photos at a sendoff party scheduled for the 18-year-old. She said she formed a bond with Lyons as she captured special moments of her getting ready for prom and interacting with the about 50 family members who showed up to her sendoff party. 'She was very kind to me — the family was very close,' Rivera said. She said she received a phone call from Lyons' mother on the day that Lyons died and that it was 'surreal' capturing some of Lyons' final hours, including photos inside of the car where the crash happened. 'I felt appreciative that I was at the forefront of her mind, and that she knew that I did genuinely care, that I wasn't just there for the job,' Rivera said. Lyons' celebration of life service is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Calvary Assembly of God, 18620 Governors Highway, Flossmoor, according to a flyer shared on social media. Those looking to send flowers or cards to Lyons' family are asked to mail them to Keith McGee Funeral Home at 300 E. 115th St., Chicago. ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Service on Saturday for Homewood-Flossmoor student who died in post-prom crash
The life of the Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior killed in a post-prom crash on the Bishop Ford Freeway May 4 will be celebrated during a service on Saturday. Tom'mya Lyons, or TJ, was remembered by friend Ma'Kiyah Hammons Wednesday as a sweet girl who lit up any room she stepped foot in. 'She was telling everybody that they looked pretty — giving out compliments,' Hammons recalled of Lyons during their prom, which had the theme A Night of Enchanted Elegance. The prom was held from 8 p.m. to midnight the night before at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Lyons was killed around 4:30 a.m. after prom ended, the sole passenger in the vehicle that crashed on the Sibley Boulevard ramp northbound to Interstate 94. The crash remained under investigation Thursday with Illinois State Police reporting no new information. The 16-year-old male driver of the car was not injured, police said. Since Lyons' death, Hammons said school has felt 'weird.' She most notices Lyons' absence during passing periods, where the two would usually greet each other one the way to their classes. 'I feel like everybody at the school is just taking it slowly,' Hammons said. 'Everybody has some type of relationship with her. We'll always try to remember her every day.' Hammons said she met Lyons during their junior year, becoming close with her and her friend group quickly. She said when she heard the news of her death, she didn't believe it until she checked the location and called Lyons' best friend, who was at the hospital to see her. 'We were both just crying on the phone together,' Hammons said. Noralyn Rivera was hired by Lyons' family just hours ahead of prom to take photos at a sendoff party scheduled for the 18-year-old. She said she formed a bond with Lyons as she captured special moments of her getting ready for prom and interacting with the about 50 family members who showed up to her sendoff party. 'She was very kind to me — the family was very close,' Rivera said. She said she received a phone call from Lyons' mother on the day that Lyons died and that it was 'surreal' capturing some of Lyons' final hours, including photos inside of the car where the crash happened. 'I felt appreciative that I was at the forefront of her mind, and that she knew that I did genuinely care, that I wasn't just there for the job,' Rivera said. Lyons' celebration of life service is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Calvary Assembly of God, 18620 Governors Highway, Flossmoor, according to a flyer shared on social media. Those looking to send flowers or cards to Lyons' family are asked to mail them to Keith McGee Funeral Home at 300 E. 115th St., Chicago.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Homewood-Flossmoor High School student dies in post-prom crash on I-94 ramp
A Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior was killed in a single-car crash on the Bishop Ford Freeway in Calumet City early Sunday. Illinois State Police said Monday they found Tom Mya Lyons, 18, on the Sibley Boulevard ramp northbound to Interstate 94 around 4:30 a.m., and she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. She was the sole passenger in the vehicle. No further information was immediately available, police said. The crash followed Homewood-Flossmoor High School's prom with the theme A Night of Enchanted Elegance at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago that lasted from 8 p.m. to midnight, according to the school's website. 'Tom Mya was more than just a student — she was a vibrant member of our community, a loyal friend, a dedicated classmate, a committed teammate and a positive presence throughout Homewood-Flossmoor High School,' Principal Clinton Alexander said in a statement. 'Her energy, kindness and spirit touched the lives of many, and her absence will be deeply felt by us all.' A Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 statement said Lyons was a dedicated member of the school's step dance team, which ended its season with a first place win in their division last month. 'Let this time of sorrow bring us even closer as a school community. In moments like these, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and one another,' Alexander said in the statement. The district said members of its crisis team will be available to help students and staff who are grieving or otherwise struggling with the loss of Lyons. Support will be available in each of Tom Mya's classes Monday and Tuesday, the district said. There will also be designated spaces in both the high school's buildings for crisis team members to meet with students. ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
05-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Homewood-Flossmoor High School student dies in post-prom crash on I-94 ramp
A Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior was killed in a single-car crash on the Bishop Ford Freeway in Calumet City early Sunday. Illinois State Police said Monday they found Tom Mya Lyons, 18, on the Sibley Boulevard ramp northbound to Interstate 94 around 4:30 a.m., and she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. She was the sole passenger in the vehicle. No further information was immediately available, police said. The crash followed Homewood-Flossmoor High School's prom with the theme A Night of Enchanted Elegance at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago that lasted from 8 p.m. to midnight, according to the school's website. 'Tom Mya was more than just a student — she was a vibrant member of our community, a loyal friend, a dedicated classmate, a committed teammate and a positive presence throughout Homewood-Flossmoor High School,' Principal Clinton Alexander said in a statement. 'Her energy, kindness and spirit touched the lives of many, and her absence will be deeply felt by us all.' A Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 statement said Lyons was a dedicated member of the school's step dance team, which ended its season with a first place win in their division last month. 'Let this time of sorrow bring us even closer as a school community. In moments like these, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and one another,' Alexander said in the statement. The district said members of its crisis team will be available to help students and staff who are grieving or otherwise struggling with the loss of Lyons. Support will be available in each of Tom Mya's classes Monday and Tuesday, the district said. There will also be designated spaces in both the high school's buildings for crisis team members to meet with students.
