NORFOLK, Va. — Friday night, the SouthEastern Transgender Resource Center celebrated the life of Lexus Walker, the woman killed in a head-on collision in Norfolk’s Downtown Tunnel over the weekend.
Many who attended the celebration described Walker as a loving, caring, and compassionate advocate for the LGBTQ community in Norfolk.
“She loved drag. She loved bartending. She just loved running around,” said Tarina Williams.
Others said Walker encouraged them to embrace their own identity.
“She gave me the confidence to learn how to be myself and do something comfortable for me,” said Janae Ballard, who said she met Walker six months ago and referred to Walker as her "drag auntie."
“I think everybody in the community looked up to her because Lexus was one of the first people we met when we first came out. Even when I was 14 years old, I met Lex, and we’ve been rocking ever since,” said Williams.
While many celebrated Walker’s life, her family believes it was a life cut short after 27-year-old Dominque Goodwin crashed into Walker’s vehicle the day before New Year’s Eve. Investigators determined alcohol contributed to the crash.
“That decision she made impacted all of us. It took away our baby cousin from all of us, and it’s not right. It’s not right,” said Walker’s cousin Sherry Scott.
Williams said the SouthEastern Transgender Resource Center plans to create a scholarship in honor of Lexus Walker.
Investigators said charges against Goodwin are pending. The investigation is ongoing.