An account has been established at SunTrust Bank to help defray funeral expenses for an MTSU graduate killed in a highway accident.

Philip Akoto, a 33-year-old mathematical sciences major who received his master’s degree in May, died when his car collided with a tractor-trailer Dec.14 at the intersection of Joe B. Jackson Parkway and Elam Road in Murfreesboro.

Akoto, a native of Kumani, Ghana, was on his way to work at Amazon Fulfillment Center on Joe B. Jackson Parkway when the incident occurred. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

He is survived by a sister, who lives in Ghana, and an uncle, who lives in New York, N.Y.

Richard Ewool, a graduate teaching assistant in the Center for Computational Sciences, and George Obeng, an instructor in the College of University Studies, have established a fund to raise money to send Akoto’s body home to Ghana.

Philip Akoto

Contributions may be made to the Philip Akoto Benefit Account at any branch of SunTrust Bank.

“Philip was a gentle and kind young man,” said Dr. Rebecca Calahan, one of Akoto’s professors. “As a mathematics graduate teaching assistant from August 2011 to May 2013, Philip worked as a mathematics tutor and helped many MTSU students.”

“He kept to himself,” said Obeng. “He loved soccer and sports and was very generous.”

Ewool, who was Akoto’s roommate, shared a quote Akoto had posted on his Facebook page that Ewool said revealed Akoto’s love of God. It reads, “The loss of gold is great/The loss of health is more/But losing Christ is such a loss/As no man can restore.” 

For more information about the fund, contact Dustin Vernon at SunTrust Bank at 615-848-2447 or dustin.d.vernon@suntrust.com.

—Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)