A 27-year-old guidance counselor who was killed in a car crash on Eleuthera on Friday was "kind, friendly and loving" and had a passion for children and for her pet dogs, her grieving relatives said.

According to police, Chara Richa Major was driving south on Queen's Highway in a charcoal gray Nissan Note when she lost control of the vehicle and collided into a Casuarina tree. The vehicle was severely damaged and Major had to be extricated.

"Chara's strengths were her diligence, tenacity, ability to focus and compassion," according to a statement by her grandmother Violet Duncombe, and aunt Anthea Karagiannis.

Major, a graduate of St. John's College on New Providence, was stationed at three primary schools on Eleuthera.

She was a member of the Toastmasters Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which "moulded her ability to be a confident communicator", her family said.

"Chara has impacted many lives, old and young, and even in her short sojourn on this earth, her legacy will be about the quality of her interaction with those who were fortunate to have encountered this wonderful person," her family said.

Major graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Winston-Salem State University in 2017 and was in the process of finishing an online master's degree this year.

She worked with children with behavioral health issues in Roanoke, Virginia.

"The one word that best describes Chara is loving. She had a passion for helping children and wanted to touch their lives, and have a positive impact," her family said.

Karagiannis described Major as having a "beautiful smile" and "unforgettable grin".

She also recalled important moments shared with her niece.

"We shared many memories, but the one that stands out the most is teaching her to make homemade bread and pastries. She was affectionately labelled as 'bread monster' number one," Karagiannis said.

"She was not just a niece but a daughter to her aunts and uncle. She was well loved as the oldest grandchild on both sides of her family. Her strong sense of family was important and she interacted with many of her cousins. She was also loved by her friends."

Major was her mother's only child and she had a younger brother on her late father's side.

She adored her pet dogs, her family said.

"Chara had no children of her own but loved and took great care of her 'baby' Tafari, her Terrier whom she adopted when she was in her final year of university.

"Tafari has been Chara's company for five years. She even adopted Lala, so that Tafari would not be lonely. Her two dogs brought her much joy and happiness."

Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna-Martin in a Facebook post called Major's death a "tragic" and "tremendous" loss to the nation.

"I extend to her family on behalf of the entire team in the Ministry of Education our heartfelt condolences," Hanna-Martin wrote.

"We pray God's strength on her loved ones during this difficult and painful time."

The post Family remembers young guidance counselor killed in accident on Eleuthera appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Family remembers young guidance counselor killed in accident on Eleuthera appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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