LUMBERTON, Miss. (WHLT) – Employees at Lumberton High School are mourning the loss of a beloved teacher.

Susan Copeland, who was a science teacher, was killed during a crash after leaving the school on Wednesday, January 31.

“She knew she couldn’t teach them if they were hungry. So, she always had snacks for them. She had this little red wagon that she pulled around if she would go get them a cooler of water every morning. She just really tried to think ahead of what her student’s needs were,” said Teresa Poston, a co-worker at Lumberton High School.

Since her passing, students made a memorial wall outside of her classroom filled with pictures and notes. Copeland was known for being a mentor and motherly figure to her students.

“She was really devoted to her kids, and she told them. She loved them every time they walked out the door,” said Poston.

“She loved everybody. She loved the kids and she was a hard worker. There was no doubt that she taught every day from the minute the bell rang and the kids were in the room, she was teaching,” said Lumberton High Principal Brian Giles.

School staff said losing Copeland has been difficult, but they’re getting through it together.

“It’s been really hard. And what we’ve done the last few days is try to lift each other up, provide a shoulder to cry on, and share stories and laugh. And, you know, that’s how families get through these sorts of things,” said Giles.

Copeland had worked at the school for about 10 years.