Tarleton State University student Kimberly Peacock, who passed away in late April, was honored on August 29, which would have been her 20^th birthday.  Peacock’s mother, Valorie Hoard, and stepfather Daniel Hoard hosted the event in the Barry B. Thompson Student Center to raise money for a plaque at the Abilene Zoo in her honor.

“The actual one that I’m gearing up for is the zoo that we would have taken her to after she passed, where you actually get to feed the giraffes,” said Mrs. Hoard. “They are doing a new exhibit… Basically you’re contributing to make the new giraffe exhibit but you’re buying a spot. It’s kind of going to be like an African shield. It’s going to have her name with whatever I want written on it. They give you twenty-five characters so we’ll have her name, the date she was born and the date she passed. Then they are going to have a whole ceremony about it.”

 “Kimberly’s mom had plans to meet with her at the zoo a month ago to see the giraffe exhibit, because Kimberly’s favorite animals were giraffes,” said Elizabeth Casey, a friend of Peacock’s. “She loved how awkward they were. They were going to go see them, but that couldn’t happen so they are fundraising for a plaque with Kimberly’s name to go on the new giraffe exhibit at the Abilene Zoo.”

Through a Facebook message, Peacock’s Phi Mu sorority sister Rachel Leeth said,

“Kim was always happy. I never saw her any other way. Even when she felt sick or was sad, she was still happy. This memorial will be an amazing way to honor her. Kim deserved the world and she deserves to be honored with this.”