MURFREESBORO, Ark.—Theresa Humphrey is still troubled about the real reason Pamela Jean Henderson was driving to her house.

Henderson had made a date to go shopping, but that was just a ruse. She was going to deliver Humphrey to a surprise 50th birthday party.

But on the way to Humphrey’s house, Henderson was killed in a two-car crash. The driver of the other vehicle was allegedly intoxicated. The date was Sept. 1, 2007.

Three days later, Humphrey attended Henderson’s funeral. Humphrey will always taste the bitterness of the irony of that Sept. 4.