Florida A&M University student Ashanti Smith’s “caring” and “fiery” personality are what her peers remember her by after she was killed in a fatal car crash a few days ago.
“She was tough on the outside, but on the inside, she was very caring and nurturing,” FAMU senior Jaylen English, 24, told the Tallahassee Democrat Monday. English is one of the students who helped organize a candlelight vigil held Monday evening at the campus’ Eternal Flame in honor of Smith, 22.
A Broward County native, Smith died Sept. 29 during a head-on collision in Woodville. A 21-year-old man driving an SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with her sedan traveling in the opposite direction, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.
Smith was a first-year criminal justice major at FAMU who transferred to the university in fall 2023 from Tallahassee State College . She became president of The Lovely Ladies of TorQue dance team on FAMU’s campus, and she was also an active member of the FAMU Section of the National Council of Negro Women.