Pamela Catherine McCardwell, 20, a Campbellsville University junior majoring in Christian social ministries, died Monday, Aug. 6, in a two-car collision.
Her funeral was noon Friday, Aug. 10 at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky.
McCardwell was a youth minister having worked in Africa, Poland and Bolivia. She had worked in the Office of Broadcast Services at Campbellsville University two years as a student employee. She had also served as a Student Ambassador at Campbellsville University. She had worked this summer with the Office of Student Services in LINC, a new student orientation program.
She was a counselor at the Young Women's Christian Association, taught Sunday School at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Taylorsville, Ky., and was a member of the National Honor Society.
She attended Lighthouse Baptist Church, Mt. Washington Baptist Church, Southeast Christian Church and Woodlawn Christian Church.
“Pam was a beautiful young lady with a sweet spirit, a servant's heart and a contagious love for Jesus Christ,” said Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of CU's School of Theology. “You never met her without seeing a smile on her face.”
Hurtgen said McCardwell had been to Poland once for a short-term mission trip in her first year at Campbellsville University where her experience was so positive that she had been planning and was set to return to Poland in the fall to work at a Christian camp as well as take some courses for credit.
Hurtgen said Jody Graham, youth minister at Woodlawn Christian Church, had just informed her earlier Aug. 6 that the last of her funding for the trip was complete.
Jodi Allen, director of counseling services at CU, told those gathered at a prayer service Aug. 6 in her honor to “do something to channel your grief.” A memorial blanket in honor of McCardwell was provided so students, faculty and staff could write messages of encouragement to her family. Many letters were written to the family to share memories of McCardwell's time at CU.
McCardwell is survived by parents, Mark and Lisa Bruner McCardwell; her three brothers, Jake McCardwell, Jon Miller and Joe Miller; her grandparents, Tom Edelen and Pamela Edelen; her aunts and uncles, Tina Bruner, Mike and Carol McCardwell, Jennifer and Ron Ferro, Stephan and Deanna Bruner, Danny Edelen and Aaron Edelen; her cousins, Sean and Megan McCardwell, Tonya Ruzanka, Zachary and Brooklyn Bruner, and Caroline and Graylen Ferro; and her niece, Alexis Miller.
Also in the car, which was operated by James J. Dean of Williamsburg, Ohio, was Christie Bagley, 20, of Louisville, and Jeffrey Grant Litton, 20, of Somerset, Ky. All are CU students. Litton was transferred to University of Louisville Medical Center for treatment. Dean was treated and released at Taylor Regional Hospital.