William “Vance” Payne of Virgina perished in an early morning vehicle crash in Germantown on Tuesday, August 4. A stolen van allegedly driven by a 13-year-old, who struck Payne’s car as he headed to work at the National Institute of Standards, according to Montgomery County police. He was declared dead at the scene.
This Sunday, Payne, a 58-year-old father of five will be remembered at a candlelight vigil in Germantown, according to a Facebook post. The informal ceremony will happen at the very intersection where he was killed — Great Seneca Highway and Clopper Road. The vigil is planned to start at 8 p.m.
The vigil was organized by Yuki Nakandakari. She wrote on her Facebook page that she did not personally know William Payne. But thinks of him every day when she travels through the intersection where the fatal collision occurred. So, she wants to honor his life.
“He wasn’t my friend or a member of my family. He was simply my neighbor. And that should be enough,” Nakandakari wrote in a Facebook post.
As she invites others to join her, she says, “Bring a candle. Bring a flower. Say a prayer if you believe in prayer. If you don’t, simply join us and share a moment of silence. It doesn’t matter what religion you practice. It doesn’t matter what your political beliefs are. It doesn’t matter where you come from. For one hour, let’s simply be neighbors.”
Nakandakari also urged her readers to not become unfazed by the realities that plague our society.
“Let’s remember Vance and remind ourselves that we cannot become indifferent to tragedy, violence and crime in our community. Montgomery County is our home. And I truly believe that there are far more good people here than bad.”
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