Those who knew her paint a picture of the late Mary Beth Lear as a vivacious young woman.

"She lit up the room when she walked in," her mother, Susan Lear, said. "She never met a stranger."

The senior, 18, was active in many facets of life at Anson High School, where she was enthusiastic in her efforts and well-liked by many classmates. She was killed in a car accident on May 19.

"She was nice to everybody," her brother Brandon, a 15-year old freshman, said.

A varsity cheerleader, Lear was also a member of the HOSA Club and kept score for the varsity baseball team.

"She was very dependable," head baseball coach Mike Currie said. He described her as conscientious and always ready to work.

"It's a real tragedy to our program," he said. "My heart just goes out to Mary Beth and her family."

The team signed their hats and gave them to her family.

"We are kind of just supporting the students as they go through this," said Michael Freeman, executive director for teaching and learning with Anson County Schools. Counselors were on site to help students.

Freeman said she was a "very strong student academically."

Outside of school, she stayed just as busy. Lear was a member of Lilesville Baptist Church, participating in children's church, Acteens and the youth group.

"She loved everyone," her father, Steve Lear ,said. She was especially good with children.

Her parents described her as a very spiritual person.

She also taught cheerleading with Anson County Parks and Recreation and worked as a lifeguard at the pool in Polkton.

Lear had big plans. She would have been a certified nursing assistant when she graduated at the end of this school year. She planned to attend East Carolina University to continue studying nursing.

Her father said he was touched by the outpouring of support from her friends, many of whom posted messages to her Facebook page.

Students rallied in the aftermath, with one gathering taking place in the school's parking lot May 19 and another forming at the school's flagpole the morning of May 20.

Steve Lear said she was like many teens and enjoyed spending time with her friends.

He laughed recalling when he went to get his son a text messaging plan. Her parents described her as "the text messaging queen."

When he spoke with the phone company's representative, who reviewed their current plan, the rep asked, "Do they have any thumbs left?"

Susan Lear said Mary Beth could text without looking at her phone. She helped pay for the service with her job as a lifeguard.

The family has established a scholarship fund in her name. Donations should be made to the Mary Beth Lear Scholarship Fund, c/o Lilesville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 305, Lilesville, NC 28091.