HOLLY POND, AL- The small town of Holly Pond, Alabama, was enveloped in grief on Friday as they bid farewell to Lexi White, a 23-year-old dispatcher for the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. White and a fellow employee, Deputy Kenneth Booth, both lost their lives in an apparent murder-suicide in Orange Beach. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Booth and White, who were romantically involved, had a heated argument that escalated to the point where Booth fatally shot White and then himself.
White, a native of Holly Pond, was escorted back to her hometown by sheriff’s deputies from the Gulf. The untimely death of the young woman has deeply affected the community of just over 800 residents. As her body was taken to the Holly Pond Funeral Home, locals lined the streets, holding yellow balloons in a poignant tribute.
Not far from the funeral home stands Holly Pond High School, where White graduated in 2018. The school’s principal, Dr. Nate Ayers, fondly remembered White, describing her smile as infectious. Ayers, who was a teacher and coach during White’s time at the school, said they would remember her positivity and not dwell on the tragic circumstances of her death. White was a member of the school’s softball team, and her family was well-known and loved in the community.
The loss has also deeply affected White’s colleagues at the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Matt Gentry expressed his devastation and shock in a statement, extending his condolences to the families of both White and Booth. Gentry remembered White as a cherished member of the Cullman County family since she was 16, participating in the Sheriff’s Office Youth Leadership Academy annually. He described his heartbreak as akin to losing one of his own children.