Family members said Shipley Rose Buckner had just been accepted at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville when she died in a tragic accident early Sunday morning.

Funeral services for the 18-year-old Baylor School senior are Wednesday in her home town of Cleveland, Tn.

A scholarship has been established to her memory.

The Buckner family, who have long been in the funeral business in Cleveland, issued this statement:

"Our family received the most devastating loss early Sunday morning, when our beloved daughter Shipley was taken from us. Our hearts are broken and we will never be the same. We love Shipley beyond words and were looking forward to celebrating her graduation from Baylor High School in just a few weeks.

"Just last week we learned that Shipley had been accepted to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, she was so excited about beginning her college years. Shipley lived life to the fullest, and loved her family and friends.The overwhelming support of our family, friends and the entire Cleveland community has touched our family, and we are forever grateful.

"We want Shipley's beautiful life to be remembered and lived out by helping others. Our family is establishing a scholarship fund in Shipley's honor. We will never forget her, and we will always love her! Thank you again for your support, kindness and your continued prayers."

The wreck occurred at 12:53 a.m. on a curve in the 9600 block of Hixson Pike in the vicinity of Lakesite.

A vehicle driven by another Baylor student, 18-year-old Courtney Rhodes, went out of control and struck a tree. Ms. Shipley died at the scene. Ms. Rhodes was transported to Erlanger Hospital with injuries.

The sheriff's office said the preliminary information showed that the driver of the 2002 GMC Denali lost control in the curve, hitting the guard rail and then the tree. The crash impact was on the passenger side of the vehicle.

A memorial service to honor Ms. Buckner was held at Baylor School on Sunday night.

In an address to students during the school's regularly scheduled Monday morning chapel, Baylor Headmaster Scott Wilson asked students "to keep Shipley's family in their thoughts and prayers and to care for one another during this tragic time."

Ms. Buckner was a member of the varsity cheerleading squad, the Baylor Choir, the Baylor Dance Team and the Baylor Theater.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland.

She was a granddaughter of the late Ralph and Stella Buckner and K.G. and Mable Edgemon.

She is survived by her mother, Jan Edgemon Buckner; and father, Ralph Buckner, Jr. and wife, Chari; brother, Brandon Buckner; sisters, Stella Buckner and Paris Buckner, all of Cleveland; aunts and uncles, Anna Jean and Bobby Roberts and Alice and Johnny Powell, all of Decatur, Carolyn and Ken Barnett of Kingston, Libby and Dave Gregory, Becky Buckner, Linda and David Hunt and Judy and Sonny Harvey, all of Cleveland; and several cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Cleveland with Pastor Alan Lockerman, Pastor Jim Gibson and the Reverend Max Morris officiating.

Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Marty Gregory, Shane Roberts, Jason Powell, Kelly Barnett, Jacen Hunt, Paul Harvey and Eric Neff serving as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Baylor senior football players and the varsity cheerleading squad.

Her family will receive friends on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Cleveland.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Shipley Buckner Scholarship Fund, c/o Bank of Cleveland, PO Box 5000, Cleveland, TN 37320.