A Camden community gathered on Wednesday to stand against drunk driving and honor Esiyah H. Dixon-Waheed, a 26-year-old Camden woman who was killed in a head-on crash during a church retreat in Missouri last month.
Dixon-Waheed, who had recently been living in Minneapolis, died near Hannibal, Missouri, after a collision with an SUV. The driver, 61-year-old William Strausbaugh, was charged with four felonies, including a count of causing the death of another while driving intoxicated. He has pleaded not guilty, and a judge denied bond at a Wednesday hearing, citing his revoked license and a past history of DWI convictions and other offenses.
An “angel amongst us” and a multitalented community member
More than 30 people began the somber vigil at the corner of Haddon Avenue and Park Boulevard, then marched through the Parkside neighborhood toward Farnham Park. By the time the procession reached the park, about 50 people had joined in, paying tribute to the Waheed family and Dixon-Waheed herself.
“It’s our job as the community of Camden to stand around them, put them in the center of us and allow them space to grieve,” said Ronsha A. Dickerson, a community activist who recalled Dixon-Waheed’s time with her family after karate class and African dance lessons. “I loved that baby and she was one of our daughters.”
Family and friends spoke of Dixon-Waheed’s bright spirit and her many talents. Her mother, Mahasim Parker-Waheed, described her daughter as “bubbly” and an “angel.” Dixon-Waheed was a singer, dancer, actor and choreographer, and she earned a criminal justice degree from Wiley University, where she sang with the A Cappella Choir and contributed to the Freedom Film Project. She was featured in the documentary “1700 Miles: A Journey to Explore Freedom.”
The family said Dixon-Waheed previously worked as a juvenile detention officer in Minnesota after teaching in Texas for two years, and she had plans to return home to regroup and move forward.
A community’s call to remember and to prevent
Lakiba Hall, Dixon-Waheed’s cousin, described her as a “living angel walking on this earth amongst all of us,” noting how her positive energy could lift others’ spirits in moments of sadness or hardship.
As Camden’s residents reflected on the loss, they also underscored the broader message: drunk driving devastates families and communities, and neighbors must look out for one another to keep roads safe.
What this stands for
The vigil highlighted a local response to a national issue—distracted or impaired driving—and the need for safer streets. Moving forward, community leaders and residents said they will continue to advocate for responsible driving, support for victims’ families, and programs that deter drunk driving.
Additional context and takeaways
– The vigil drew attention to the human impact behind DUI cases and the importance of community solidarity in times of grief.
– Dixon-Waheed’s life story—her talents, education and service—was honored as a reminder of the positive impact one person can have and a plea to protect others from preventable tragedies.
– The case against Strausbaugh remains active, with prosecutors pursuing the charges tied to impairment and other alleged offenses.
A note for readers
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, resources and support networks are available through local health services and national helplines. Community safety also benefits from simple steps like planning ahead for a designated driver, using ridesharing when impaired, and ensuring impaired drivers are kept off the road.
Overall, the Camden gathering offered a poignant tribute to Dixon-Waheed’s life and a collective commitment to safer streets, reminding neighbors that every life is worth protecting and every community has a role in preventing needless tragedies.