Family, friends celebrate Carter Figgs’s life one year after his passing

DELMAR, Del. – The life of Carter Figgs, a young Delmar High School student whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident last October.

Friends, family, and community will go to Oak 54 Whiskey and Wine Bar for a bonfire, to celebrate his life. His mother, Laurie Knapp, is still processing what has happened. She loves how community driven Delmar has been. “I love to hear my son’s name, I cannot talk to him in the past tense, because to me, he is always my baby, he is always going to be here with me.”

The Delmar High School Student and athlete was killed in a drunk driving accident. The Delmar School District’s Superintendent Andrew O’ Neal feels like the community has gotten closer. He believes Carter’s spirit still lives on in the community.

“Carter was a great young man, had a vivacious smile, always great to see him in the cafeteria walking the hallways and in the classrooms.”

In the tight-knit Delmar community, you can often find people wearing shirts commemorating Carter. His dog Jax wears a shirt in his honor, with his football number, 32.

O’Neal said the community pours itself into the members, and they are almost like a family. “Our community members, our staff, and our students, all gathered together and were there for a time of need for the friends, the family members, and everyone close to Carter. Without our community, I doubt we could have gotten through such a difficult time.”

Knapp continues to be an advocate against drunk driving, she shared her message, reminding people not to drive under the influence. “It’s very important to be aware of your surroundings. Number one and more importantly, it’s not worth losing anything, being drunk or high, or whatever the case may be, it’s not worth your life or anyone else’s life to get behind that wheel.”

She has been reflecting on the last year and hopes the community’s commitment to remember Carter never stops. She cherishes it, every single day. “It helps me, it helps me a lot to see them remember him and say his name.”

Delmar School District has made a scholarship in Carter’s honor. ‘The Carter Figgs Scholarship’ will be awarded to one female and male student-athlete at the end of the year award banquet.

If you would like to donate to the scholarship fund, you can call the school at 302-846-9544