Family of pastor, wife killed in Lakeland pedestrian accident needs donations to bring them home

Last week a Massachusetts pastor and his wife were killed crossing a street in Lakeland, Florida just feet away from their 7-year-old daughter. Now the family is raising money to bring them home and provide them a funeral.

Yanique Pierre Baptiste, 46, and her husband, Pastor Ronald Jean Baptiste, 54, both of Everett, Massachusetts, were in town with their daughter Chayana to visit Yanique's sister, according to their eldest daughter.

"My mom loved her sister," Rodnicha Jean Baptiste said in an email interview. "They were literally best friends. But in the past few years, they have not been able to see each other in person. So this was the first time my mom came to visit her sister over in Florida in a really long time.

"This was also the first time she had seen her sister's house as well," she said.

Lakeland police said that the Baptistes, who were staying at a hotel nearby, attempted to cross South Florida Avenue just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Rexyanna Honors, 22, of Lakeland was driving a Toyota Yaris through a green light on South Florida Avenue when she crossed the intersection of Imperial Boulevard and struck the couple, police said.

The Baptistes' young daughter was nearby but was not hurt in the crash, police said. Despite the response from emergency crews from the city and Polk County, the Baptistes were pronounced dead on the scene.

The child has been placed in the care of family members, police said.

Mother a longtime business owner in Everett, Massachusetts

"My mom was a hairdresser in Everett," Rodnicha Jean Baptiste said. "She has been doing hair for most of her adult life but she has specifically been working at the salon she owned in Everett for 17+ years."

Baptiste has been the pastor of the Great Commission Baptist Church in Everett since it was formed in 2012. Originally from Cap-Haitian/Lorillard, Haiti, he received a Bachelor's degree in Theology and was ordained in 1998. He served as co-pastor for two churches in Haiti before moving to Massachusetts. Yanique Pierre was from Port-au-Prince.

"My parents met in Haiti when they were young," Baptiste said. "They have been together since they met over 30 years (ago), and married for over 22."

The Baptistes have three daughters, Rodnicha Jean Baptiste, Nikicha Jean Baptiste and Chayana Jean Baptiste.

Donations needed for Massachusetts couple killed in Florida

"My parents are still in Florida," Baptiste said, "They have not been sent to a funeral home yet. This money will go towards the cost of the funeral, but also to ensure they receive the burial they deserve.

"They were pillars of my community, and so many people want to be there to say their final goodbyes," she said. "I want to make sure that whatever we decide as a family can accommodate such a large community."

Moving the remains of a loved one can easily run into the thousands, according to U.S. Funerals Online. There are fees to acquire the bodies and prepare them for shipping, on top of the costs of containers and transportation (per mile by ground, a set fee for flights).

As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser had pulled in over half of the $70,000 goal.

"With help hopefully we can memorialize Mr. and Mrs. Baptiste and bring them home to their loved ones," the fundraiser description says.

Was the driver in the fatal Lakeland pedestrian crash at fault?

Honors remained on the scene and did not exhibit any "obvious indications of impairment," police said. No charges have been filed and no citations have been issued, although it remains an open and active investigation, police said.

Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Traffic Crash Investigator Officer Travis Payne at travis.payne@lakelandgov.net.

Where was the Massachusetts couple killed in Lakeland, Florida?

The incident occurred at 3437 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland, police said, as the couple attempted to cross.

Lakeland is located about 25 miles east of Tampa.