Having returned to his home state of North Carolina for a visit with family, friends and to see his alma mater North Carolina Central University compete in its conference basketball tournament, Herndon High School guidance director Adrinell Dye, 33, was killed last Sunday, March 3 at 5:30 a.m. in the Durham area.
"I had a closeness with Adrinell," said Herndon High School guidance counselor Ryan Haynes. "We came to Herndon High at the same time and we would shoot hoops at Herndon Middle School on Fridays after school," he said of his friend and colleague who was a passenger in a Ford Explorer that was in a one-car accident.
"Adrinell was a great athlete. He ran track in high school and played basketball with his church — Heritage Christian Fellowship. He would wake up at 4 a.m. to work out before coming to school," said Haynes adding that Dye was in North Carolina to see his alma mater as well as visit with friends and family. "He met his wife at N.C. Central," said Haynes.
Dye, a Centreville resident, is survived by his wife Latricia and their three-year-old son Tristan, said Herndon High School principal Janice Leslie.
"Adrinell was very much the proud papa — proud of his son and very invested in his marriage," said Herndon High School guidance counselor Heather Upton, who also joined the staff with Haynes and Dye two years ago. "He had lots of pictures in his office of his wife and son," she said.
"He knew the importance of faith in his life," said Upton. "Church was important to him. He was very active in his church — beyond the Sunday service — he valued the fellowship there," she said.
ON THE JOB, Upton described Dye as "our calming effect. A man full of integrity. He did the utmost at his job. He always used to say ‘we’ll get it done,’ no matter how much there was to do."
"He was very supportive of us and really looked after the counselors. He was a great director. He prioritized well and was very focused on the job. I never saw him frazzled," said Haynes.
"Adrinell was a tremendous, wonderful counselor, a marvelous communicator and an up and coming star in Fairfax County," said Leslie of Dye who had been at Herndon High two years following his time at West Potomac High School, which was preceded by his time working in Lexington, Mass.
"It’s just unbelievable — it’s a tremendous loss. He was a positive role model with a great future ahead," said Haynes.
"He will be greatly missed — by students and adults. He had a huge impact on our community — an amazing role model. It’s very sad," said Upton.
Services will be held in High Point, N.C. at a yet to be determined date, said Leslie.