In Loving Memory of Virginia Wynne Naylor
“More Like Wynne” — A Legacy of Love, Faith, and Purpose
It is with unimaginable sorrow that the family of Virginia Wynne Naylor confirms the heartbreaking news of her passing after being missing for several days due to the catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas. Wynne, just 8 years old, was staying at the camp’s Bubble Inn cabin when the floodwaters swept through the area. Her family has confirmed she died on July 4, 2025, a day now marked not by celebration, but by deep grief and remembrance.
In the face of unspeakable loss, Wynne’s family—led by her father, Cole Naylor—has chosen to honor her life through light, hope, and legacy. In a moving statement shared with CNN, Cole announced the creation of a new foundation titled “More Like Wynne”, a name that reflects the way Wynne lived—with infectious joy, deep faith, and a love for the world around her.
“There are no words to express our gratitude to everyone who supported Wynne and our entire family through this time,” Cole Naylor wrote. “Wynne had a great love of the outdoors, a love of God, and a love for her community. To honor Wynne’s life and ensure her legacy continues, the family has set up ‘More Like Wynne.’”
Wynne was a child who radiated light. Her days were filled with laughter, curiosity, and kindness. Whether exploring the outdoors, helping a friend, or praying with sincerity far beyond her years, she lived each moment fully and with love. Her family says that Wynne embodied the values they hold most dear—faith, service, wonder, and compassion.
In reflecting on the tragedy and the days following her loss, Cole Naylor shared a message that speaks to the strength of their faith and their resolve to let Wynne’s life inspire others:
“If you remove the grief, the stress, the tears of despair and the cries of horror from the days since this tragedy began, you will find how God intends for us to live,” he wrote.
“Replace grief with hope. Replace stress with servitude. Replace tears of despair with joyful recollection. Replace cries of horror with terms of endearment. This is how our girls danced through this world. This is how they will be remembered. This is how God intends we live.”
The “More Like Wynne” Foundation, created in partnership with The Dallas Foundation, will reflect Wynne’s values and support the causes she loved and believed in. According to the family, the foundation will fund:
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Local educational programs, ensuring young minds receive the opportunities Wynne would have wanted for her peers.
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Youth wildlife conservation efforts, preserving the outdoor spaces Wynne so dearly loved and protecting the animals she adored.
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Christian ministries, continuing her spiritual legacy and sharing the faith that shaped her joyful, giving spirit.
Derek Klein, a spokesperson for The Dallas Foundation, confirmed that the organization is working closely with the Naylor family to ensure the foundation honors Wynne’s memory with integrity and impact.
The Naylor family, like so many others affected by this devastating flood, now walks a path marked by sorrow but also courage. Their choice to build something meaningful from their loss is a testament to the love they have for Wynne—a love that refuses to be drowned by tragedy.
As the community mourns, there is now a rallying cry: Be more like Wynne. Be gentle. Be bold. Love deeply. Believe fiercely. And find joy even in life’s simplest blessings.
Rest in peace, sweet Wynne.
You danced through this world with grace and light.
May your spirit guide us to live “more like Wynne” each day.