STARKVILLE – Before Elizabeth “Lake” Little was born, her mother, Pattie Little, saw a sign on the side of the highway for Lake, Mississippi. She liked the name enough to give it to her daughter.

Now, Lake has a sign of her own.

State, city and county officials gathered alongside the Little family and friends Friday to dedicate a portion of Highway 82 in Oktibbeha County as the Elizabeth “Lake” Little Memorial Highway in honor of Lake, who passed away in July 2019.

Knowing a highway sign inspired his sister’s name, Layton Little, said the new sign in Lake’s honor will carry deep meaning for family, and he hopes “it means the world to someone else in the future.”

“I like to believe that in 5-10 years time … there might be some little boy or little girl that sees that sign and says, ‘What a beautiful name that is, and that’s a name I might want to name my child’ without having any contacts or connection to her family,” Layton said during the dedication ceremony at The Mill at Mississippi State University. “Because that sign that said Lake, Mississippi had no context or connection to our family.”

Lake, a member of the Civil Air Patrol who had enlisted in the Mississippi Air National Guard, died at age 18 when the single-engine plane she was flying solo crashed in Oxford.

In Starkville, Lake was active in a number of community organizations, including Starkville Academy, where she was a popular student and member of the 2019 graduating class, and First Baptist Church, where she played an active role in a variety of church programs.

Lake represented Starkville in the Miss Hospitality pageant and planned to attend University of Southern Mississippi to study speech pathology.

“Those accomplishments are impressive, but perhaps Lake’s greatest legacy is found in the countless people whose lives she touched through her kindness, generosity, joyful spirit and servant’s heart,” said Sid Salter, Mississippi State University vice president for strategic communications, who emceed the dedication ceremony. “Today, we honor that legacy and ensure that future generations will remember a life that demonstrated the very best qualities of service, leadership and faith.”

Speaking at the ceremony Friday, District 43 State Rep. Rob Roberson remembered Lake as someone who “spoke truth to power,” always invited others to church and a teenager resourceful enough to buy a kid’s meal at a restaurant with the money her dad gave her so she’d have more left over.

“She believed in everything she did, and she put her whole heart into it,” Roberson said. “ I think that’s part of the impact that she showed each of us. Lake pursued her passions without fear. She moved through this community like a lightning bold, and she touched so many people.”

Roberson recalled Lake’s motto for the Miss Hospitality competition: “I’m your pilot. Let’s fly.”

“That wasn’t something that was just a motto for her,” he said. “It was how she lived.”

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The Elizabeth “Lake” Little Memorial Highway is the last mile-long stretch of Highway 82 in Oktibbeha County just west of the Lowndes County line. David Little, Lake’s father, said his daughter “used to burn that stretch of highway up” to make meetings at Columbus Air Force Base and Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

“Naming this section of highway to (honor) Lake’s memory means more to us than anything we can ever say to you guys,” David said during the ceremony. “We still miss her every day, and this lasting tribute stands as a wonderful reminder of her life and the impact she’s made on those in Starkville and Oktibbeha County.”

Mayor Lynn Spruill, who like Lake began flying as a teen before pursuing her own career as a Navy pilot, said she and Lake bonded over their love of flying when Lake served on the Mayor’s Youth Council. Spruill joked that she had hoped to steer Lake toward joining the Navy instead of the Air Force.

“When I go to the airport, I am so looking forward to being able to have that as a part of her legacy for the state and the city of Starkville because she did love Starkville,” Spruill said.

In honor of Lake’s legacy, Layton encouraged everyone Friday to honk while driving past the sign.

“Whether it’s on the way to the airport or Tuscaloosa or Columbus, to honk your horn because you might be in the car with somebody else that didn’t know Lake, and that might be an opportunity for you to share her story and her faith,” Layton said.

McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.