Friends remember West Brook grad killed in cra

BEAUMONT - by Lauren Huet
Family, friends and classmates are remembering Danielle Culpepper. The 19-year-old graduated from West Brook High School last month. She was killed in a car crash Saturday afternoon in Newton County.
Culpepper's friends say she was a kind, caring, good-hearted person you could talk to about anything and was always there for others. They say she was passionate about her family, friends, faith, softball and powerlifting.
The West Brook High School Girls powerlifting team usually meets in the training room to practice. Monday night they met to remember their fellow teammate Danielle Culpepper.
"Best thing about her was she was so loving and caring," said Erica Proctor. "You can go to her with all your problems and they'd be solved. She had Christ in her heart. She was just a wonderful person and I miss her very much."
Erica Proctor says Culpepper was her best friend.
"She's like my sister, and now she's my guardian angel," said Proctor. "She's so comforting. She just had that, she had an aura about her, she just had that vibe like you could go to her with anything."
Culpepper died in a car crash Saturday afternoon in Newton County.
"I didn't think it was real. I keep thinking even now am I going to wake up from this nightmare, but I know I'm not," said Proctor.
"I still can't believe it," said Coach Malcolm Isom. "Just in one week, you seen a person, she's giving you a hug at graduation, and next thing you know now she's not here."
Culpepper's powerlifting coach Malcolm Isom says she was a dedicated athlete.
"One day I remember her crying because her ankle was hurting so bad, but she was lifting," said Coach Isom.
When he first met her, Isom had to stop her from powerlifting while she was injured.
"She wanted to lift so bad," said Isom. "So, that's the first thing I remember about her. I was like, man this girl is dedicated. I needed 30 more of those, girls that was dedicated like that."
She was planning to attend Lamar University.
"She's with our Lord right now and she's in a good place," said Proctor.
Teammates remembering their friend's life and legacy.
"She was just wonderful, beautiful, she touched everyone," said Proctor. "She put a smile on anyone's face she came in contact with. She was just- she's wonderful."
Broussard's Mortuary released a statement to KFDM from the family of Danielle Culpepper:
"Danielle was a sweetheart in the truest sense of the word. She loved her Jesus, her family, her Calvary, and her friends. Everyone she ever met was a friend. So many never got to know what a friend she really was. Danielle was an awesome jeeper, softballer, and power lifter. She was an encouragement day in and day out to all around her-especially her pastor. Danielle was headed for Lamar University, a job, and an awesome career. She was doing everything right, and nobody understands why she's gone but the Lord called her name. He is blessed with her presence, and we will forever be at a loss without her."
Visitation is Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Broussard's Mortuary on Major Drive. Her funeral is Wednesday at 10 a.m. Calvary Baptist in Beaumont.