'Molly's tree' stands in front of day-care provider's house

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By ZACH PLUHACEK / Lincoln Journal Star

There’s an ivory silk lilac tree for Molly Lanham on South 20th Street.

It stands in front of the same house where the 5-year-old rode her bicycle in the driveway, drew pictures inside and planted flowers in the yard just weeks before she was left critically injured in a hit-and-run accident at a bus stop May 23.

Molly went to day care at Jeff and Sherry Smart’s house. Her little sister Allyson still does.

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Jeff Smart (center) and his son, Drew (left), and Sherry (right) planted an ivory silk lilac tree in their front yard to honor Molly Lanham, the girl who was recently hit by a car while trying to board a school bus. (Michael Paulsen)

Jeff Smart (center) and his son, Drew (left), and Sherry (right) planted an ivory silk lilac tree in their front yard to honor Molly Lanham, the girl who was recently hit by a car while trying to board a school bus. (Michael Paulsen)

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Molly's tree

Molly Lanham's day care provider plants a tree in her honor. The 5-year-old was hit by a car near her school bus stop on May 23.(Video by Zach Plu...

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The lilac tree Jeff Smart planted in front of the house at 2905 S. 20th St. on Saturday is a sign she still touches the people around her. He was touched by her the day she helped him plant some impatiens in his front yard.

He sees a little bit of Molly in those flowers — and in the trees he’s planted since her accident.

“They’re gonna grow, and she’s got some more growing to do,” he said. “She took an interest in planting these two plants and watched them grow.”

Sherry Smart, who was Molly’s day-care provider for three years, said Molly was “just full of life — happy, smart, great big sister to Allyson.”

Sherry Smart plans on helping her day-care kids make some sort of plaque for the tree, but nothing too big.

She wants a “Keep Kids Alive —Drive 25” sign, too, but hasn’t gotten one yet. Sometimes, Jeff Smart said, people will drive 65 or 70 mph along their street. The street is in a school zone.

Campbell’s Nurseries & Garden helped with the cost of the $400 tree. Jeff Smart said he talked with the owner, who said the nursery was asked for discounts all time for plants in people’s honors.

“This one seemed worthwhile,” Jeff Smart said.

As he dug the hole for the new tree, neighbors walked by and offered compliments. One neighbor asked whether this was Molly’s tree. Cars driving by slowed down to take a look.

“It’s kind of like a spur-of-the-moment type thing,” Jeff Smart said.

Reach Zach Pluhacek at 473-7395 or zpluhacek@journalstar.com.