ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) --After her sudden death last year, friends and local educators in Itawamba County are striving to keep the memory of April South alive.
April South was special needs preschool teacher at Itawamba Attendance Center. She died suddenly in 2011.
Friends established a non-profit organization, April's Angels, in her memory.
"We just felt as a group of friends we just had to do something to keep her name alive because she was such a special person," said friend Staci Kline.
Educators formed the non-profit to benefit the area of special education.
"We have raised approximately $11, 000 and we recently purchased the smart table. Our next goal is to purchase handicap accessible playground equipment," said friend Emily Mabus.
Educators said the current playground equipment at the school is not accessible for special needs children; something April was concerned about.
"We have some kids that are in wheelchairs and they can't walk and just sit outside and watch the other kids play. We felt this was not right. These kids need to be able to play like the other kids," said Kline.
The handicap playground will be located adjacent to the current playground. Right now organizers estimate that it will cost roughly $50,000 to fund the park.
