Ava Grace Luplow

Ava Grace Luplow, age 18, of North Little Rock, AR went to be with her Lord and Savior January 22, 2023.  She is survived by her parents, Sarah Wimberly and Lance Luplow, younger siblings Landon and Paisley Luplow, grandparents Britt and Becky Wimberly, Britt Luplow and Kathleen Pursell, aunts Laura Wimberly, Hanna Pursell Arnim (Sam), Katelyn and Jenna Luplow, uncle Wesley Pursell (Sabrina), cousins Ezra Arnim, Juniper Arnim and Tiana Cates, and multiple aunts, uncles and cousins who loved her deeply.  Honorary mention would also like to be given to her “built in best friend” Gabriella Pursell and “her most favorite tiny human” Holly Grace Cahoone.   

She was a senior at Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, AR where she participated in cheerleading, FBLA, BETA Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, DECA Club, Tri-M, Youth Alive and All Region Choir.   She had plans to attend either Jackson Hole Bible College in Wyoming or Central Baptist College in Conway with an interest in early childhood education and photography.   She was a devout Christian and faithfully attended Faith Bible Fellowship Church in Sherwood, AR.    She excelled both academically and professionally, working through high school at the Humble Crumb Bakery in Sherwood along with several of her friends.  We would love to thank the kindness and generosity of both her church and work family who took amazing care of our Ava over the years.

Ava loved the Lord and served Him fervently.  She would share the gospel with anyone who would listen.  She was Baptized and knew giving her life to the Lord was the best decision she’d ever made.  She loved her friends, dancing, singing, driving her car and of course, making TikTok’s.  We are forever grateful she documented everything.  She looked out for her brother Landon more than anyone else.   She was his number one cheerleader both in sports and in life.  She attended every baseball game of his and wanted nothing but the best for him.  Oh how she loved him so much.  

Ava loved her Nonnie and had many sleepovers with her friends there.  It was her safe space and a cozy getaway.  She was a daddy’s girl and loved going to see him every day at work after school.  From day one, he could calm her heart and make her smile.  He also was great at keeping her shoes clean.  She was her mama’s “best girl” and helped her in so many ways.  She adored her mother and would do anything to make sure she was taken care of in every way.  Ava loved her pets Jud and Millie with all her heart.  Her grandparents were her biggest fans and she loved to make them proud.

Ava was a lover of anything from Sonic. Cane’s Chicken was her favorite. Tropical Smoothie made her happy and she was never without a tea.  Her friends meant everything to her.  We would love to mention her closest friends but that would be all of them.  She loved babies and would have made a wonderful mother one day.  

Our hearts are shattered that our baby girl was taken from us, but we find comfort in knowing that she is in heaven with the Lord and her dear friends and family that have gone before her.  She would not want us to be sad but rather use this tragedy as a testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of God.  With Him, all things are possible.  Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 8:18 - “The pain you have been feeling can’t compare to the joy that is coming.”

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of her dear friends who also lost their lives in this horrific accident – Salomon, Maggie, Suzy and Andrea – as they have all been a tremendous support system for our family.  We extend our gratitude to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Carbon County Sheriff’s office (Loretta Hansen), Carbon County Coroner Brittany Nyman, Casada Funeral Home, and the many first responders as well as witnesses who stopped to try and render assistance.  A special thank you to her church family at Faith Bible Fellowship and to students and staff of Sylvan Hills High School and Jackson Hole Bible College for their continued support and assistance.  We greatly appreciate the outpouring of sympathy and offers for assistance from our many friends and others in our local communities of Sherwood, North Little Rock and Jacksonville and the state of Wyoming.

Visitation will be Friday, February 3 from 5 to 7pm at Faith Bible Fellowship Church.  Funeral service will be for “The Fab Five” on Saturday, February 4 at 10 am at the Sylvan Hills High School Performing Arts Center.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Faith Bible Fellowship Church, 9800 Northbrook Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72120.