Friends of plane crash victim remember her as vibrant, loyal

ATLANTA — Funeral arrangements are set for Jackie Kulzer, the Atlanta area native, who died in a plane crash on Friday.

Kulzer was engaged to Christopher Byrd, and the two were set to marry near the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina in October. Kulzer, Byrd, his father, Greg Byrd, and brother Phillip Byrd, all died in a tragic plane crash on Interstate 285, not far from Dekalb Peachtree Airport. They were on the way to attend Robert Byrd’s graduation at University of Mississippi.

Friends describe Jackie as a vibrant woman, with a contagious smile.

“She had her whole life planned with him,” said Michelle Valdez, a high school friend.

“We will miss how contagious her life was and how big her life was,” said Elizabeth Landers, another friend, “I know we will miss how everything was lighter when she was home.”

Kulzer attend St. Pius X Catholic School in Atlanta. Savannah Lavender, says the two immediately became close friends in ninth grade.

“I will always miss her laugh, her crazy antics, her being there for me when I need her the most,” Lavender said.

Kulzer went on to attend University of Mississippi in Oxford, where she met the love of her life, Christopher Byrd.

"There are no words to describe the amazing person that Jackie was. Her laugh was infectious to everyone around her. Our lives have forever been changed for the better because of Jackie. Her friendship impacted so many people through her ambitious, joyful, loyal, and fun-loving personality. She truly never met a stranger. We wish Jackie and Chris eternal peace. We will forever love you,” said Joanna Nesbitt, Katelyn White, Natalie Kruse, and Madison Frank, Jackie’s friends from college, in a texted statement.

Jackie was pursuing her career as an accountant, working in the Atlanta area. She and her fiancé had just bought a town home.

Jackie’s friends say they find some comfort in knowing she will be buried next to her fiancé, Chris Byrd, in Asheville. Even though they never married on this earth, they say, the couple will be together for eternity.

“That was her life and now they will get to have their life together still,” Landers said.

“There was a reason why Jackie was on that plane, that she was going to Oxford. We know they will rest in peace together," Valdez said.

The family will have a wake from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel (Brookhaven) at 4550 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30319.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what caused the crash. The investigation should last two weeks, but it will take between six months and a year to release the full federal report.

WSBTV