Savannah Day could light up a room with her great personality.
“Savannah always had a smile on her face,” said Savannah Smith, a senior at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. “She could always make you smile or laugh when you were down.”
The standout athlete and 2018 Unity High School graduate passed away on Wednesday evening after her car collided with a train on Homer Lake Road just east of 2300 E.
Day was friends with numerous SJO students.
They remembered their friend a day after the tragic accident as a genuine person who lived life to the fullest.
Aspyn Taylor, a 2018 SJO graduate, said she would never forget Day coming into the room while SJO students were getting ready for 2017 homecoming.
The students were at Frankie Izard’s house doing their hair and makeup.
“She saw me and she screamed ‘ASPYNNNNNNNNN,’” Taylor said. “If anyone heard her scream they knew it was the most high-pitched, loud noise. She gave me the biggest hug, and after our makeup was done we did hers too, even though she wasn’t going to SJO’s homecoming.”
Smith said she and Day bonded over their name.
“Savannah and I met a couple years ago over social media,” Smith said. “We always say we’re “Sav twins” and it was something we’d always say to each other.”
Taylor said Day was a genuine friend and human being.
“She lived her life to the fullest,” Taylor said. “She would do anything for anyone. She was a friend to all.”
Smith said Day was outgoing, fun, loud, spunky and always the life of the party.
“She always lit up a room when she walked in,” Smith said. “Savannah knew everyone and had a special bond with everyone she knew.”
Smith said anytime she saw her Day would run up and give Smith a big hug.
“She would scream ’SAV TWIN’ and run at me,” Smith said. “I loved talking to her about our relationships with boys and giving each other advice.”
Smith said Day was always there for anyone who needed her.
“She will be missed so much,” Smith said. “Prayers for her family and the community. We all love you so much Sav.”
At Unity, Day was a member of the cross country team that won the Class 1A state championships in 2015 and 2017. The team finished second in 2016.
She was a four-year letter winner in track and a member of the 3,200-meter relay team that won a state title in 2015.
This year, Day was on the cross-country team at Danville Area Community College, beginning her freshman year of college.
DACC head coach Jim Acklin described Day as high energy, funny and a great teammate.
“She was a great leader for her female teammates,” he said. “They are taking it really hard.”
Acklin said that even though Day wasn’t running as fast as she had in high school, she didn’t let it affect her attitude or her work ethic. Her rapport with her teammates was clear to see.
“She was making her teammates better just by being around them,” he said. “They all said that in their own way in the last 24 hours.”
When Acklin was told what had happened on Wednesday night, he made the decision to tell the team so they would not see it on social media beforehand. He sent them a group text message saying he had very bad news and explaining what happened. He then met the cross country team at DACC and they spent an hour talking about what happened and about Day.
Acklin said he hopes the team comes together and honors Day by being successful.
“Every one of them have said that she made them better,” Acklin said. “Hopefully enough of that rubbed off on them that they will want to do it for one another and ultimately that will be the best way to honor her memory.”
Acklin said the central Illinois running community has come together to mourn the loss of Day.
He has received numerous text messages and phone calls from coaches he coached with, runners he coached and former coaches of his own.
“It has just been an overwhelming show of support and sympathy,” he said. “Running is a unique sport. It’s not as adversarial. Savannah did not know a stranger.”
SJO graduate Rachel Mullen reiterated Day’s ability to approach anyone and befriend them.
Mullen said she had a special moment with Day at the Spartan Classic track and field meet that was held during Mullen’s senior year. Mullen had just finished her heat of the 300 hurdles, which she won. She said she could hear someone cheering her on the entire race.
“I didn’t know where she was but I heard her voice,” Mullen said.
After her race, Mullen laid down in the infield. Day took the time to step away from her team and came and laid on the grass with Mullen. She told Mullen how great she had run and that she could not wait to see Mullen compete for the rest of the season.
“I obviously said the same,” Mullen said. “She was such a powerful runner and just fun to watch overall.”
Mullen said Day always gave great big hugs before saying goodbye.
“I think that is something I’ll miss the most is how compassionate she was and how much she cared for others, no matter where they were from,” Mullen said.
Day’s mother, Gloria, works at Elite Learning Center in St. Joseph.
The learning center is asking parents and staff members to donate money to help the family with any expenses they may incur. The Learning Center will match donations until Oct. 12. They also have cards in the lobby for staff and parents to sign for the Day family.
A GoFund me page has been established to help the family with expenses. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/remembering-savannah-day.
Donations are also being accepted at Longview Bank for the Savannah Day Memorial Fund.
