Rachel Elaine Sutherland, 18, a leader among the Diocesan youth, an honors graduate of George Rogers Clark High School and a student at Manhattanville College in New York City, died Saturday in Hinesville, Georgia, of injuries received in a traffic accident. Rachel is the daughter of the Rev. Alan Sutherland and Elaine (Elly) Moran Sutherland and sister of James Alan Sutherland of Winchester. She was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, and had also served on the Episcopal Province IV Youth Board.

Deputies to the 107^th Convention of the Diocese of Lexington in 2003 speak admiringly of her presentation to convention on the Provincial Youth Event and a Youth Presence at convention.

Rachel was passionate about working for organizations which helped people, and was active in many charitable causes. She organized the American Anti-Slavery Freedom March in 2003 in Northern Kentucky, was instrumental in the construction of the Winchester Clothing Bank and organized the Sierra Leone Clothing Drive in Clark County in 2002. She was majoring in international politics and psychology at Manhattanville. In preparation for a summer back-packing trip to Costa Rica, she was working with the Hispanic Missioner at the Episcopal Church Center in New York to find contacts which would allow her to do “any kind of mission work.” “I just want to serve,” she said.

During her high school career, Rachel was a 2002 Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and on the National Honor Roll. She was also President of her high school freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes. While at George Rogers Clark, she was also Miss Freshman 2000, Miss Sophomore 2001 and Miss Junior 2002, and was named to homecoming courts in 1999, 2000 and 2002. A four-year first-team academic All-state girls’ varsity soccer player, she received the Coach’s Award, was named to all-district, all-regional and honorable mention All-State teams. She was also a U.S. Soccer Federation certified soccer referee.

Rachel was on her way to Florida for spring break with four other students when the blow-out of a tire caused the vehicle to overturn. She was a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle. The four other occupants were injured in the one-vehicle accident.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Cathedral of St. George the Martyr, The Cathedral Domain, Lee County, where Rachel was active with youth summer conferences, New Beginnings and Happening. In tribute to Rachel, the Happening weekend will go forward at the Domain as scheduled.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Cathedral Domain, Box 610, Lexington, KY 40588.

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