Love Lives On
An East Texas Family Walks to Honor Amy and Her Unborn Child

On the morning of April 16, 2004, Amy Beth Anderson had just shared her exciting news with family members: she was pregnant, early in her first trimester, with her second child. Later that night, Amy was killed on impact from the blunt force trauma of a drunk driver’s car. 

Devastated, her family has honored Amy in multiple ways since. Most recently, they’ve displayed one of the new Texas highway signs, which will remain up for a year at the site of her death. The family had previously erected a marker at the crash site.

They’re especially proud of the gravestone they designed, with Amy’s portrait on one side of the black granite and a beautiful inscription of “I’m Free” on the back. It’s near their home in Wills Point, Texas.

Amy’s daughter, Kendall Brown, now a 10-year-old fourth grader, lives with Amy’s sister Angela Kreil, Uncle Curt and her two cousins, Morgan and Abby. Amy’s and Angela’s father, Joe, often visits from Oklahoma. Amy and her longtime boyfriend, Jimmy Brown, had planned to get married. He now lives in Paris, Texas and works for Kimberly Clark.

Together with other relatives and friends, the Kreil family formed a team of 12 to walk in last spring’s Strides for Change fundraiser, sponsored by MADD’s North Texas affiliate. They all wore custom-designed t-shirts, highlighted with Amy’s portrait and the words “Love Lives On.” 

This was the family’s third walk to honor Amy and her unborn child. The Kreil’s team has raised a total of $20,000 to support MADD’s goal to eliminate drunk driving. They are looking forward to being in the Walk Like MADD fundraiser on Saturday, April 19, at Williams Square in Las Colinas, in Irving, Texas. For details on Walk Like MADD across the nation, visit www.WalkLikeMadd.org. 

Find out more about the ways you can make a difference in the fight against drunk driving in your state.

Or make a donation to your local chapter of MADD to support our mission to eliminate the tragedy of drunk driving and prevent underage drinking.