Friends and Family mourn the death of Gladys Barrientos

More than a hundred prayers fill Gladys Barrientos’ Facebook fan page to honor a life cut short when a man struck her vehicle in an attempt to evade police Thursday evening.

The psychology junior was on her way home when 22-year-old Tyrone Lee Sims II collided with her vehicle as she was turning east onto Wintergreen Road in Duncanville, according to the police report.

Police said Sims fled after being pulled over for a broken headlight.

Sims did not have a driver’s license at the time of the incident. He has been charged with murder for causing the death of another in the act of a felony.

Friends said Barrientos’ life was marked with a great sense of humor and a love of sports. She excelled in sports, participating in everything from soccer to cross country.

Most notably, her passion was wrestling.

"She played volleyball freshman year of high school,” longtime friend Kelli Fischer said. "When our coach suggested we practice with the wrestling team for extra conditioning, that’s where Gladys found her passion.”

Barrientos also found her best friend Lauren Danielle Birks through wrestling at Bishop Dunne Catholic School.

"We spent four to six days a week with each other,” Lauren Birks said. "Even after she graduated, she helped coach my senior year of high school, so it was almost like she was still with me all four years.”

Barrientos’ friends remember her as someone who never put her needs before others.

Lauren Birks said she remembers a time when Barrientos took care of her while they were cutting weight for a wrestling tournament.

"There was a heat wave in Fargo, and we were dehydrated, training three days a week, and just suffering,” she said. "At 3 a.m. she gets up and goes to get me a wet towel to put on my head. I have no idea how she got the strength to get up. That was Gladys, always putting others first before herself.”

Barrientos’ selflessness carried with her even when she started at UTA, Fischer said.

In their freshman year, Barrientos gave her friend a ride to school every morning.

"I didn’t have a car, so every morning I’d ride with Gladys and we talked about everything from family to boyfriend issues, and we reminisced about high school,” Fischer said.

Many of her friends remember her for her sense of humor.

Candice Houston Birks, who said she met Barrientos through her sister, Lauren, said Gladys earned the nickname "Dory” for her impression of the fish in the movie, Finding Nemo.

"A part of me will always long for those humorous moments, but I will cherish the ones we shared forever,” Candice Birks said.

In the wake of tragedy, Barrientos’ friends and family are still struggling with the harsh reality of losing someone so dear to them, Lauren Birks said.

"I seriously thought we were going to grow old together,” she said. "I thought she was going to be my maid of honor. I thought she was going to be my kids’ godmother. I thought I was going to see her Friday.”

Thursday evening Barrientos was driving home from a Bible study when Sims’ vehicle collided hers.

"Gladys’ walk with Christ had grown so much this past year,” Lauren Birks said. "She was attending Hillcrest [Baptist Church] on Cedar Hill, and through Hillcrest she had the Bible study. She had been approved about two weeks ago to go on a six-week mission trip in Laos. She was so excited about going.”

Barrientos’ vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, and her funeral will be Thursday at 10 a.m. Both will take place at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church on 4019 South Hampton Road in Dallas.

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Friends and Family mourn the death of Gladys Barrientos