Tuscarora Reservation: A young couple is dead following a single vehicle accident on December 30, 2013. Danyle White and Brandon Rickard leave behind 6 young children: James Huggins III, Sean Huggins, Brandon Rickard Jr., Jacob Rickard, Kobe Rickard and Janmarie Rickard.
Danyle White, 29, was a member of the Tuscarora Nation, Turtle Clan. She is predeceased by parents Jan Marie (Jacobs) White and Danny White. She is survived by brothers, Hawk Martinez and Chadd White and grandparents, Orin and Mary White and Shirley Chew and Loni Krasinki.
Brandon Rickard, 32 was also a member of the Tuscarora Nation. He is the son of Shirley (Moore) Rickard and the late Keith Rickard. He is survived by sisters, Sherri Morgan, Vicky Sosnowski, Marge Rickard and Maria Rickard.
Family and friends are now reaching out to the public to help offset the financial costs of taking care of Danyle’s children. Two Row Times spoke with Danyle’s brother Hawk Martinez. They are trying to raise approximately $15,000. Some of the funds will be put in trusts funds for the children, while the rest will be used towards clothes and for other things that they may need. Danyle’s other brother, Chadd White currently has temporary custody of two of his sister’s youngest children and is in the process of filing for full custody. White also has two kids of his own, who live with him. Danyle’s two eldest children are currently with their father, Jimmy Huggins, who also resides on Tuscarora territory.
On speaking on Danyle and Brandon’s last few hours, Martinez said, “She called me up and said she was going to come visit me. So I told her I would cook something. She came over, we ate, she left. It was just a spontaneous visit. When she left, I walked her out the door. I told my sister, ‘I love you, drive safe and call me when you get home.’ ”
Next thing he knew, he got a phone call from White who informed him of the car accident. They went to the crash site right away, which happened on the Tuscarora Reservation. Martinez said speed and weather conditions were both factors and that roads were very slippery.
On speaking about his sister, Martinez said Danyle was full of life, “I still can’t believe it, I’ve cried so much that I can’t cry anymore.”
On the death of their parents, Martinez said their mom passed away in 2003 and their dad passed away three years later in 2006.
In wake of this tragedy, Danyle’s friends and family are fundraising to help the family with costs. Transportation is also an issue at the moment. White would like to purchase a van for the new addition to his family, as his car is just not suitable anymore. In an interview, White stated, “We’re trying to raise some money to help with costs. We want to put some of the money away for the kids. Danyle did laundry the day of the accident and the kids’ clothes were in the car when she got in the accident so they lost most of their clothes. So we want to get them some new clothes. We also want to get them the things that they need and be able to take them places. The money will be used to take good care of them.”
For anyone wishing to help out, donations can be made online by following the link: https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/1gq3/the-children-of-danyle-white-brandon-rickard
