Friends and family of Jennifer Wilson, who was brutally murdered while on a family vacation in Flagstaff more than twenty years ago, gathered Thursday at Desert Lawn Cemetery for a grave side memorial service, the same day Wilson's accused killer was put to death by lethal injection.God bless Jennifer Wilson and her loving family!
Having a memorial service at their loved one's grave is what I suggest all MVSs should do instead of viewing the execution.
Prisoners suspected of having tendencies like Jennifer's murderer may benefit from viewing this demonstration of deterrence, but not the murder victim survivors! www.yumasun.com/news/family-71093-jennifer-yuma.html QUOTE:
Jennifer Wilson's family gathers in remembranceJune 30, 2011 3:59 PM
BY SARAH WOMER - SUN STAFF WRITER
Family members who gathered in Yuma Thursday remembered Jennifer Wilson as having all the potential in the world.
Around the same time Richard Bible was executed in Florence for Jennifer's murder, a handful of her extended family and friends gathered at her grave in Yuma for a memorial service.
During the service, the group stood under an awning at the Desert Lawn Memorial Park cemetery and listened to Monsignor Richard O'Keeffe speak about healing.
O'Keeffe explained that the first thing Jesus did after his resurrection was show the marks left on his body from the crucifixion to his followers.
“He did it to remind us that he was the only one that really overcame death and evil,” he said, noting that Christ has the ability to help them as they continue on with the healing process.
O'Keeffe said that he knew Jennifer's parents, Richard and Nancy Wilson, very well while they lived in Yuma, noting that he was asked to give them advice and guidance during the difficult times they faced.
The justice of the whole ordeal is finished, he commented, adding that now is time for them to come to the Lord for healing.
“They'll probably never fully heal,” he said later about the family, “but each day will be better than before.”
Jennifer was born on May 24, 1979, and 9 short years later, was killed on June 6, 1988, during the start of her summer family vacation in Flagstaff.
Her uncle, Terry Wilson, explained at the service that what he remembers most about her is that, “she had a great personality and a wonderful smile.”
She was very athletic and had all the potential in the world, he added.
While Jennifer's sister and two brothers have gone on to college, started their careers, got married and started having children — she will never get to experience those things, he said sadly.
“The pain is probably going to be with us for a long time, but we have had some relief now that justice has been served in Florence today,” he said about the execution of Bible.
Although the execution closed one chapter, he shared that they will always feel like someone is missing from their lives.
“I hope that Rich and Nancy and their family will regain their strength and continue on with their life,” he said.
Terry's wife, Susan, said that they decided to gather at her grave on Thursday, to pray and have a memorial service because that was all they could do.
“Since we can't be there (in Phoenix), the best thing for us is to go out to her graveside,” she said in a previous article of the Yuma Sun.
She added, “We want to thank the Yuma community, who has done an awful lot. We just want to thank everybody that has reached out to support the Wilson family.”
God bless Jennifer Wilson and her loving family!
Having a memorial service at their loved one's grave is what I suggest all MVSs should do instead of viewing the execution.
Prisoners suspected of having tendencies like Jennifer's murderer may benefit from viewing this demonstration of deterrence, but not the murder victim survivors! www.yumasun.com/news/family-71093-jennifer-yuma.html QUOTE:
Jennifer Wilson's family gathers in remembranceJune 30, 2011 3:59 PM
BY SARAH WOMER - SUN STAFF WRITER
Family members who gathered in Yuma Thursday remembered Jennifer Wilson as having all the potential in the world.
Around the same time Richard Bible was executed in Florence for Jennifer's murder, a handful of her extended family and friends gathered at her grave in Yuma for a memorial service.
During the service, the group stood under an awning at the Desert Lawn Memorial Park cemetery and listened to Monsignor Richard O'Keeffe speak about healing.
O'Keeffe explained that the first thing Jesus did after his resurrection was show the marks left on his body from the crucifixion to his followers.
“He did it to remind us that he was the only one that really overcame death and evil,” he said, noting that Christ has the ability to help them as they continue on with the healing process.
O'Keeffe said that he knew Jennifer's parents, Richard and Nancy Wilson, very well while they lived in Yuma, noting that he was asked to give them advice and guidance during the difficult times they faced.
The justice of the whole ordeal is finished, he commented, adding that now is time for them to come to the Lord for healing.
“They'll probably never fully heal,” he said later about the family, “but each day will be better than before.”
Jennifer was born on May 24, 1979, and 9 short years later, was killed on June 6, 1988, during the start of her summer family vacation in Flagstaff.
Her uncle, Terry Wilson, explained at the service that what he remembers most about her is that, “she had a great personality and a wonderful smile.”
She was very athletic and had all the potential in the world, he added.
While Jennifer's sister and two brothers have gone on to college, started their careers, got married and started having children — she will never get to experience those things, he said sadly.
“The pain is probably going to be with us for a long time, but we have had some relief now that justice has been served in Florence today,” he said about the execution of Bible.
Although the execution closed one chapter, he shared that they will always feel like someone is missing from their lives.
“I hope that Rich and Nancy and their family will regain their strength and continue on with their life,” he said.
Terry's wife, Susan, said that they decided to gather at her grave on Thursday, to pray and have a memorial service because that was all they could do.
“Since we can't be there (in Phoenix), the best thing for us is to go out to her graveside,” she said in a previous article of the Yuma Sun.
She added, “We want to thank the Yuma community, who has done an awful lot. We just want to thank everybody that has reached out to support the Wilson family.”