‘Everybody’s person’: Saluda mourns high school educator
SALUDA, S.C. (WIS) - Students, faculty and community in Saluda are mourning the loss of 34-year-old Jennifer Wingate, who was a band director and girls soccer coach at Saluda High School.
She died following a crash Thursday night in Irmo. Police say the other woman involved in the collision was 31-year-old Chelsie Pittman, who was driving under the influence. A judge denied bond for Pittman on Saturday.
“She was everybody’s person; everybody loved her,” said Wingate’s older sister, Lauren Owens.
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Owens said when her sister Jennifer was young, she loved music and playing goalie in soccer.
Wingate would go on to serve as director of Saluda High School’s marching band, helping the band finish third in the lower state championships in October 2023. Over the last two years, she also served as the head coach of the women’s soccer team.
Owens talked about how whether it was on the field or in the band room, her younger sister inspired everyone she touched.
“She was everybody’s friend; she was everybody’s guiding light and biggest smile in the room that you could imagine even if she was in her darkest hour,” Owens said, “She was always smiling.”
Before coming to Saluda, Wingate won teacher of the year at Trenton High School in Florida in her first year of teaching there. Owens said as an educator, her sister brought communities together throughout her career.
“She helped bridge the gap between the football players and the band kids, the coaches and teachers,” Owens said, “She worked with everybody.”
A Celebration of Life for Jennifer Wingate will be held on Sunday, January 21st, at 3pm, in the Wiles Chapel at Newberry College.
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