Funeral set for two young girls killed Friday

Funeral services for the Claudia Wadlington and Riley Lawrence will be Tuesday morning at St. Andrew's Church in Louisville. The girls were tragically killed by a hit-and-run driver Friday afternoon in Louisville. Five-year-old Claudia, daughter of Angie Wadlington of Louisville, and H.C. Wadlington of Union, Ky., and four-year-old Riley Jane Lawrence, daughter of Sarah and David Lawrence of Louisville, were fatally injured about 5:45 p.m. Friday, July 25 near the University of Louisville campus. They and Claudia's mother had been at McDonald's restaurant at Floyd and East Warnock streets and were headed for their swimming lesson across the street when they were struck by the car as they crossed Floyd at the crosswalk. The driver, who was fleeing from police after being stopped for a traffic violation, has been charged with two counts of murder. Claudia died at the scene and Riley was pronounced dead at Kosair Children's Hospital. Angie Wadlington, who was also injured, was taken to University Hospital and released that night.

The girls, who were best friends and cousins through their grandmothers, have close ties to three parishes in Louisville and another in Madisonville. Riley was a member of Resurrection Church, where her grandmother, the Rev. Dr. Eva Markham, has been the deacon for several years. She is also the granddaughter of Ken Markham, a long-time lay leader at St. Mary's in Madisonville. Claudia was a member of St. Andrew's Church, and her grandmother Kim Wadlington is a member of Advent Church.

Visitation will be at Pearson's Funeral Home, 149 Breckinridge St., from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 28.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, at St. Andrew's, which is located at 2233 Woodbourne Ave., with burial at Cave Hill Cemetery. The Revs. Ben Maas, Tim Mitchell and Jerry Cappel will preside over the service. The diocese's clergy have been invited to vest, with white stoles and be in procession.

Following the burial, a reception for friends and family will be hosted by Advent Church, located at 901 Baxter Ave. across the street from Cave Hill's main entrance. Because Advent has limited parking, information regarding parking will be made available at the services.

Commenting on the girls' close friendship, Mitchell, said that Claudia's rector, the Rev. Ben Maas, perhaps best described the youngsters' relationship when Maas observed that "the girls celebrated this life hand in hand." Mitchell added that "Riley and Claudia really, really loved church and seeing priests dressed up."

A fund is being set up by the Diocese of Kentucky for donations to help the families defray the funeral expenses. Checks should be made out to Trustees and Council of the Diocese of Kentucky with a clear notation on the face of each check or an accompanying letter identifying that the contribution is to go to the Claudia Wadlington Funeral Fund or Riley Jane Lawrence Funeral Fund. Donations should be sent to the Diocese of Kentucky, 425 S. Second St., Suite 200, Louisville KY 40202.