Stretch of Highway 82 dedicated to the memory of Lake Little

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Her life was cut short, but not before she had had an outsized influence on those around her, now she will have a public memorial.

A portion of Highway 82 was dedicated Friday to the memory of Elizabeth “Lake” Little.

Little was only 18-years-old when she died as a result of a plane crash in 2019.

But at 18, she was a pilot, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, on her way to joining the Mississippi Air National Guard, Starkville’s Miss Hospitality, and had founded a group that read to children at Starkville’s Brickfire Project.

For those who knew her the dedication serves as a reminder of who she could have been, while others hope it may inspire people to make a difference.

“She was absolutely the best parts of all of us. She loved people. She could be the kindest human being in the world, but she could hold her ground better than anybody. When she was 17-years-old, she negotiated with the Air National Guard for her position there, which was going to be Loadmaster, which was a very coveted position. But she would not sign her enlistment papers until they had written it in her contract. So, she was very…she was a very smart girl. She was very involved.” said Lake’s mother Pattie

Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell added, “I think we ought to challenge ourselves to be thaat kind of impactful, inspirational person. Everybody doesn’t get a highway dedication, but we can all make a difference, and she certainly set a high bar and example for all of us.”

The Elizabeth “Lake” Little Memorial Highway will run along Highway 82 in Oktibbeha County near the Lowndes County line.