Liz Whipple, a guiding force in the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation's domestic violence program for five years, died unexpectedly on Friday at age 41.

“Everyone who knew her is heartsick,” said AVLF's executive director, Marty Ellin. “Everybody who ever works for AVLF is family, but Liz was right in the middle of the family. She was creative and playful and quirky—she lit up wherever she went.”

Whipple, who moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 2015 to head the University of Alabama Law School's domestic violence law clinic, was found dead in Lake Tuscaloosa early Saturday morning along with her friend and co-worker, Shelly Darling, 34, in what is believed to be an accident.