The Ingle Memorial Oak Tree now honors the lives of nine more Chanticleers who have died within the past year. Their legacies will live on as the tree continues to grow.
The Ingle Memorial Oak Tree, located in Blanton Park, is a symbol of peace and longevity celebrating members of Coastal Carolina University that have died. The tree has a plaque next to it, which was chosen as a symbolic representation of reflection and a place where visitors can come together and remember various students and colleagues.
On April 10, 2025, Coastal Carolina held the third annual Celebration of Life Ceremony for students and staff who died between Feb. 28, 2024, and March 1, 2025.
The following nine individuals were honored at this event:
Timothy “Tim” Alonso
Chloe Siobhan Boyle
Christopher “CJ” Burns
Mary Clare Greene
Hayden Ashley Hawkey
Travis E. Overton
Matthew “Sags” Sagarino
Jeffery “Jeff” Tracy
Stephana “Steph” West.
Provost Gibbs Knotts, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement Mariel Pagán-Smith, Staff Senate President Connie Glidden and Reverend Emily Kirby spoke at the event.
The Chanticleer Celebration of Life was created to memorialize and honor lost students, faculty and staff. It gave family and friends the opportunity to share the life of their loved one with others.
Hayden Ashley Hawkey was a freshman in the Coastal LIFE program in the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences. She was honored by her friends and family. Victoria Lowry, a sophomore sociology major, was extremely close with Hawkey for almost 6 years.
“We did basically everything together,” Lowry said. “And to just lose her unexpectedly, hurts a lot, even now.”
Lowry described Hawkey as someone who lived by the phrase, “you only live once.” She wants people to live life to the fullest, like Hawkey did.
Jeffery “Jeff” Tracy served as a security officer in the David Roper Department of Public Safety. He started at Coastal on Sept. 8, 2014. On behalf of his family, Sargent Eric Hooks accepted the picture.
Hooks worked with Tracy for the Department of Public Safety for 8 years.
An environmental advocate, Hooks said that Tracy did a little bit of everything outdoors like tree trimming and landscaping.
“He was a good storyteller and always, always had a story ready to pop off,” Hooks said. “We got a good laugh out of a joke about him being a ladies’ man or something. He was just a good guy.”
Christopher “CJ” Burns was a non-degree seeking student in the Incarcerated VOICE initiative. His mother Valeri Lauletta and his brother were there to honor him. Burns loved being involved in the program and thought it was something he would never be able to do.
“He could tell me that he was enrolled again in college,” Lauletta said. “It meant a lot.”
She said her son had a big heart, was very artistic, goal driven and was very intelligent. Burns got the opportunity to participate in an activity where he was asked what made him happy. His mother says she’ll never forget his answer.
“And he said, ‘I got to call my mom for the first time in months,’” Lauletta said. “I don’t think I’m ever going to stop thinking about that moment.”
The families of those honored were given a framed photograph featuring the Ingle Memorial Oak Tree. The framed photograph symbolized how the memory of those passed will live on as the tree continues to grow.
“Our hope is that this oak tree will stand as a physical embodiment of peace and reflection representing all those who have left us,” Pagán-Smith said.
Reverand Emily Kirby spoke after the photographs were presented to the families. Kirby shared the importance of remembering the legacy of those who have died and finding comfort in grieving with others.
“So, friends, go now from this space and peace, may we live today and always with purpose,” Kirby said.
The event was bittersweet for most. Happy memories were shared and tears were shed, carrying on the legacy of the nine Chants who died.
“May we care for one another in our grieving and in our celebration of each of these amazing lives,” Kirby said.
