Lynn woman, aunt killed in Atlanta crash

LYNN – An artistic Lynn teenager and her aunt were tragically killed Dec. 27 in an automobile collision near Atlanta.Tashieka Davis, 18, and her aunt, Mattie M. Guy, 47, both of Lynn, died when their car collided with another vehicle on a foggy highway. The driver of the second car, 39-year-old Joe Sparks, was injured.Davis was scheduled to begin studies at North Shore Community College in two weeks.”She hadn’t seen her mother in nearly four years, so she went down to Atlanta with her aunt,” said Mary Flannery, founder of RAW Art Works, a Lynn-based program for at-risk youth where Davis found roots and blossomed as an artist. “It’s tragic. She was an amazing person who was doing some amazing things.”Flannery said Davis was a gifted artist who ascended through the RAW program, ultimately showing her leadership abilities by achieving the rank of RAW Chief. The young woman was passionate about sculpture and painting, and for five years was a member of In the Making or ITM, a Lynn-based step dance troupe that won many competitions.A Classical High School graduate and prom queen, Davis lived on Summer Street in Lynn with other relatives.Guy was daughter of James Guy, pastor of the Mount Olive Church on Johnson Street in Lynn.”The minister will be burying his daughter and his granddaughter in the same day,” said Flannery. “That’s a tough one.”A wake service will be held at the church on Friday from 9-10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral and burial in Pine Grove Cemetery, according to Michael Gomes, among the cousins with whom Davis lived.Georgia State Police said the collision occurred about three miles north of Midway, in Bullock County, at approximately 4:50 p.m. Guy was driving. All three people involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts. The wreck remains under investigation. Authorities said it appears Sparks’ vehicle struck the car driven by Guy, pushing it off the road.Davis was the daughter of Lynn native Theresa Guy, who moved to Atlanta about 10 years ago, and Peter Davis of Boston. She leaves two sisters, Marie Guy of Alabama and Cali Guy of Atlanta.Students at RAW Art Works on Wednesday held a candlelight memorial service for Davis to celebrate her life and artistic achievements. Attendees passed out lip balm emblazoned with her image.”She always wore Chap Stick – never went anywhere without it – so we made some up in her honor,” said Jason Cruz, a RAW staff member.