By Elizabeth Farnsworth
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
MARIETTA - She was outgoing, fun, loved classic rock and played guitar. The pretty 18-year-old was a perennial on homecoming court and got along with everyone, friends said.
The news of Lauren Burk's violent murder has shaken the secure world of those who knew and grew up with her in the affluent neighborhoods of East Cobb and at Walton High School, where she graduated last spring.
Burk was found with a single gunshot wound on the side of the road in Auburn, Ala., on Tuesday night, about five miles away from the campus of Auburn University, where she was a freshman.
Those at her home high school remember her well. The news of her death has rocked the Walton community, an academically prestigious high school.
Knox Rawson, a freshman at Georgia Southern University, had known Ms. Burk since fifth grade. He grew up with her in Heritage Trace neighborhood. Rawson said he can't believe this happened.
"She had extremely good taste in music, liked classic rock. She was always smiling - one of the nicest people I've ever met," Rawson said. "She was very creative. She would hang out and play guitar, watch movies. We hung out at her house a lot because her mom was really cool."
Inside Walton High School, a community is grieving.
"She was a great kid. A real sweetheart," said Walton Principal Dr. Tom Higgins.
Angela Bare was Ms. Burk's counselor for two years at Walton and was close to her. She said Ms. Burk was outgoing, friendly and an outstanding student. The 18-year-old was president of the Super Senior Spirit Club at Walton last year. Her younger brother, Chad, is now a junior at Walton.
"She had a really gentle spirit and was very well respected by faculty and peers," Ms. Bare said. "She was a great, beautiful person, inside and out."
Ms. Bare described Walton, which has more than 2,600 students, as a close-knit community where kids know each other well, despite the school's large size. Counselors saw students throughout the day on Wednesday, Ms. Bare said. Teachers have been asked to report any students they see who need assistance.
At Auburn University, a fellow Marietta high school student said she's still in shock. Elizabeth Chandler graduated from Walton with Ms. Burk last spring. Both of the girls headed to Auburn, where Ms. Burk was majoring in graphic design.
"Everyone at Walton knew who Lauren Burk was," Ms. Chandler said as she left an on-campus prayer vigil at Auburn. "She was always on homecoming court-she was so free-spirited and knew all types of people. The thing is, she never really tried to be popular. She just was. Everyone just flocked to her."
Walton students and college sorority sisters gathered on Wednesday afternoon to remember Ms. Burk at the spot where her destroyed car was found, the 18-year-old Ms. Chandler said.
"I knew her though school and loved her. People are definitely shaken around here."
efarnsworth@mdjonline.com
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