Abigail Grace Tsumas had a sparkle in her eye, a big heart and a gift for attracting others.
Her friends will miss the Statesville High School junior's smile, her ability to put others at ease and her generous nature.
The 16-year-old, known as Abbey, died early Saturday morning from injuries she suffered when the 2003 Toyota 4Runner she was driving hit some trees on the side of State Park Road near Troutman, said N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper J.R. Fleming.
The vehicle was likely traveling at a high speed when it went off the road and crashed, according to the trooper.
Abbey was pinned in the vehicle, Fleming said.
Her passenger, Mary Charles Lippard, was hurt, but the trooper said her injuries weren't serious.
Both girls were transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital. Abbey was transferred to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, were she later died, according to her obituary.
The trooper said the wreck remains under investigation.
The youngest of Ellen and Harry Tsumas' three daughters, Abbey had a big heart and went out of her way to help anyone who was in need, said Ashlee Perry, one of her friends.
The girls became friends in the seventh grade, when Abbey sat down at her lunch table and struck up a conversation.
"We had a lot of fun together," Ashlee said. "She had the best time around everyone. She was known for her silly personality."
Abbey's willingness to drop everything to pray and listen to her showed Ashlee what kind of friend she wanted to be to others.
"It really did make me stronger," Ashlee said. "(Abbey) knew what her purpose was."
On Friday night, Ashlee, Abbey and other members of their Girl Scout troop went to the Harmony Haunted Trail. Ashlee said they had a great time singing and talking.
Family friend Mary Alice Parlier said Abbey loved to spend time with her friends and family.
"Everything she did, she did with a smile," Parlier said.
Abbey loved art, and was a staff member of Statesville High's student newspaper "The Blue and Gray."
Principal Larry Rogers said Abbey was a well-rounded student and well liked by everyone at the school.
She wasn't in band, but a lot of her friends were, and Rogers heard she was planning on helping in some capacity next year.
"It is unfortunate that this has happened," he said. "It certainly has come as a shock to us here."
The Iredell County crisis team and area ministers will be available at the school on Monday to help Abbey's friends and classmates deal with her death.
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