On the evening of May 23, current Stillman College student Sieas Elliott and alumni Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence passed away in a tragic automobile accident in the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area.
“This is a terrible tragedy for everyone in our Stillman family,” said Stillman College President Yolanda Page. “The spirit of each of these proud Stillmanites will live on with all who were greeted by their warm smiles and welcoming personality. The entire Stillman College community mourns this heartbreaking loss. We extend our sincere condolences to their families, friends, classmates, and teammates during this incredibly difficult time.”
A native of Stockbridge, Georgia, Elliott completed his baseball career at Stillman in May and was set to return to the HBCU to complete his bachelor’s degree in 2025-2026. During the upcoming academic year, he was slated to serve as a student assistant baseball coach. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fratnernity, Inc.
A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Gardner graduated from Stillman in 2022 with a degree in criminal justice. She was working as a juvenille officer at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center in Georgia. While at Stillman, she served as the 74th Miss Stillman in 2021-2022. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a regional rep of the United Negro College Fund National Pre-Alumni Council.
A native of Lithonia, Georgia, Lawrence played basebell at Stillman and graduated in 2023. Also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, he had been working as a baseball coach in Atlanta. Gardner and Lawrence shared a young son together.
“Personally my heart will forever mourn with the families as well as celebrate the lives of Varick and Sieas,” said Terrance Whittle, Stillman’s director of athletics and head baseball coach from 2018-2025. “I had the honor of having them as two of my hundreds of sons I have coached. I will never forget the spirit and connectedness of heart and brotherhood they brought to my life and all those that walked with us. We ask for prayers at this time for their families. As we mourn as a community, we will also remember and celebrate lives well lived.”
Jean Wilson, director of alumni affairs, added, “Varick and Destiny embodied the spirit of Stillman College—determined, compassionate, and always striving for excellence. As alumni, they continued to uplift others and set examples of leadership in their communities. Their loss is deeply felt among the alumni family.”
