Kershaw County leaders and Lugoff-Elgin High School students recently came together to honor the lives of Samantha Gladden and Maryann Large, two students whose friendships, presence and impact left a lasting impression on their school and the wider community. At its March 10 meeting, Kershaw County Council paused to recognize their memory and officially proclaimed March 10, 2026, as Samantha Gladden and Maryann Large Day in Kershaw County.
The proclamation followed an earlier moment of remembrance at the March 3 meeting of the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees. There, Lugoff-Elgin High School 2026 Class President Abigail Shoemake gave a special presentation about the pending installation of two memorial benches to honor Samantha and Maryann, who died in 2023 and 2025. The presentation set a solemn tone and reflected the care taken by students and school leaders to remember their classmates in a meaningful and lasting way.
Together, the school board presentation and county proclamation showed how deeply Samantha and Maryann were valued by those who knew them. These public recognitions were not only a tribute to their lives, but also a reflection of the bond they shared with one another and with the Lugoff-Elgin community. Their memory continues to bring people together in grief, love and remembrance.
