Vigil Held For Wagoner Deputy Police Chief’s Daughter Who Died From COVID-19

The community gathered Friday to honor the life of Brooke Ponds, the daughter of Wagoner’s deputy police chief. She was known for being deeply involved in the community.

Thursday night, Brooke lost her battle to COVID-19 after fighting it in the hospital for several weeks. She had just turned 30, and her family and friends say she will be deeply missed.

Brooke was a lot of things to a lot of people. She worked at the courthouse, volunteered her time coaching her daughter's cheer team, and did everything she could to be at every school football game.

Her brother, T.J. Ponds, said her impact reached hundreds of people in her Wagoner community.

“She just loved this town and she loved everybody in it," T.J. said. “It's something else when you come out here and you see the meaningfulness of them for them to come out and be here in person and it really truly shows how Brooke reached out and touched people.”

T.J. said Brooke got COVID-19 near the beginning of August and fought until the very end last night.

Even through the darkest of times, Brooke's friend Samantha Call said she was beacon of joy.

"No matter what we were doing, she was going to crack a joke," Call said. “Brooke lit up any room that she walked into. And I know you hear that often, but it really holds true for her.”

T.J. said she'll be deeply missed.

“She was our everything. She was the glue that held us together,” T.J. said. “You know, we had family events and she was always the life of the party.”