A Life Full of Promise

At 19, Kelsie Small was a vibrant young woman with a clear vision for her future. A 2018 graduate of Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky, she was pursuing her passion for healthcare as a nursing student at Northern Kentucky University. Her aspiration was to become a nurse practitioner, a goal she had been steadfastly working toward since high school. Kelsie's commitment to helping others was evident in her academic pursuits and the dreams she shared with her family and friends. 

The Tragic Night

On the night of May 8, 2020, Kelsie returned home from work before heading out again around 11:45 p.m. to assist friends by giving them a ride home. This act of kindness led her to the vicinity of Caldwell and 1st Street in the Old Louisville neighborhood. At approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 9, while performing this simple gesture of friendship, tragedy struck. Kelsie and a 15-year-old male passenger were shot while in her vehicle. Both were rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital, where Kelsie was pronounced dead. The teenage passenger survived after undergoing surgery for serious injuries. ...Read More