On the night of November 20, 2025, my father, Patrick Little, was killed in a tragic motor vehicle accident. Thankfully, no one else was hurt. He was a safe driver — a former motorcycle racer, a combat Marine who survived Beirut — the strongest person I knew. And yet, all it took was a drive to pick up dinner for everything to change. One ordinary moment, and in an instant, 33 years of marriage and a lifetime of memories were interrupted.

Since the news came out, the support has been overwhelming. The kindness, the messages, the memories people have shared — it has meant more than I can ever express. So many people have reached out asking, “What can I do? How can I help?” And in those first days, I truly didn’t know how to answer. When a loss is that sudden, all you can see is the absence — the missing father who should still be here. It felt impossible to know what to ask for.

But as the reality settles in, I finally know how people can help.

This is for everyone who offered support and didn’t know what to do — and for everyone who loved my dad alongside us.

It’s uncomfortable asking for monetary help, but if there’s one thing I can do for my mother in a moment like this, it’s to lighten the weight she’s now carrying alone.

My parents met in college after my dad came home from Beirut. They built a life rooted in teamwork, humor, and deep love. There was no life insurance, no will — just a man living fully, assuming he had the time he deserved. He made sure my 94-year-old grandmother was never alone while my mom worked, and my mom did the same for him. They were partners in everything.

Now, without him, the emotional grief is overwhelming — but so is the practical fallout that comes with an unexpected tragedy.

This GoFundMe will help my mom navigate the financial responsibilities left behind. While I’m able to stay home for now and support her, I will eventually need to return to my own life — or rather, to whatever “new normal” comes after something like this.

Your support — even the smallest amount — will help cover:

• Hiring an aide for my 94-year-old grandmother so my mom can work and know she’s safe

• Funeral, accident-related, and legal expenses

• Giving my mom the time and space to grieve without financial fear

No amount of money will bring my dad back. But the one thing I can do is try to make sure my mom does not have to carry this burden alone. She has spent her entire life helping others — as the Executive Director of the Community Crisis Center, and as the most selfless mother, wife, and daughter. Now she’s the one who needs support.

Any donation — no matter the size — makes a difference.

And if you cannot give, sharing this link is just as meaningful.

Thank you for every message, every prayer, every memory, and every act of kindness.

Thank you for loving my dad with us.

Thank you for asking how you can help — this is how.

With love,

Compton Little

You can read Patrick's obituary here: https://www.fletcherfuneralhome.net/obituary/Patrick-Little