Amy Headley

MONMOUTH, Ill. — The Monmouth College community is mourning the death of Amy L. Headley, a sophomore from Galesburg, who was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Tuesday night.

Headley was the passenger in a car driven by a friend, Angela Renwick, which was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Henderson Street and Carl Sandburg Drive in Galesburg at 7:18 p.m. Tuesday.

She was pronounced dead at 8:01 p.m. at Galesburg Cottage Hospital. Renwick and the driver of the other vehicle were taken to OSF St. Mary Medical Center, where they were listed in stable condition this morning.

Headley was a 2004 graduate of Galesburg Senior High School, where she was involved in French Club, Art Club and AFS. She had recently decided to pursue an English major at Monmouth College.

Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Headley of Galesburg, and a brother, Matthew, who is a student at Bradley University.

English professor Mark Willhardt, who served as her adviser, recalled Headley as "one of those students you might not always notice...quiet, even when speaking out she might not be speaking up. But she never missed anything and I appreciated that about her. No matter where class went, no matter how congenial or esoteric or complex conversation became, her eyes never lost focus. 

"It was obvious that she was with her teachers at every step of the way, working as hard as they were," Willhardt continued. "Perhaps what I appreciated most about Amy, however, was her sense of humor. As quiet and understated as the rest of her, it, too, lit up her eyes; she’d shrug a little and make the joke so that we could share the laughter she felt. Those gentle, chuckling passing remarks, the small moments where she’d flop into a chair and catch me up on her life, are going to be sorely missed."

Willhardt added that Headley had taken courses from nearly every MC English faculty member. "The whole department is affected," he said.

"Death is always difficult when it occurs within a close-knit community like Monmouth, but is especially tragic when it comes suddenly and involves a person so young," said Jacquelyn Condon, vice president for student affairs.

Arrangements were made this morning for grief counselors to be available to the campus community in the lounge of Grier Hall, the residence hall where Headley lived. Additionally, counselors and local clergy will be available in Stockdale Center throughout the day on Thursday.

A visitation will be held Friday from 4-8 p.m. at Watson Funeral Home, 1849 N. Seminary St., Galesburg, with the rosary being recited at 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2401 N. Broad St., Galesburg. Memorials may be made to the Knox County Humane Society, 1855 Windish Drive, Galesburg, IL 61401-9770.

A campus memorial service is scheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. in Dahl Chapel, with the Rev. Dr. B. Kathleen Fannin, chaplain, presiding.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330