Letters from Other Survivors
Hey there Kim
I want to tell you that you have a wonderful site and I have
enjoyed it so very much! I also want to tell you the story of your dad touched my heart. I too have felt the pain, anger, hurt and the not understanding why. Feb 14, 1995 my cousin was killed going home to his wife and 3 daughters. They had not even shared their Valentines yet that day. He had stopped at a convience store that he told his teenaged daughters to never stop at. He stopped there for gas and to use the phone. 2 males tried to rob him at the pay phone and when he ran they ran after him. He fell in a mud puddle and one of the guys came up from behind him and shot him twice in the back of the head. He had a wonderful life also. He had a beautiful wife, they had been together for over 20 years. He was only in his 40's. His oldest daughter was about to graduate from High School. She just recently married on his
birthday. He will never see them graduate or get to walk them down the isle and give them away at their weddings. I don't know why I am writing this to you, but reading your story brought back all those feelings. I can remember going to his wake. The entire
funeral home was packed. I thought there were 3-4 wakes going on at the same time. There wasn't. There must have been over 400 folks coming in and out of that place. It took me over 3 hours to get to my cousin, his wife, in the line. It was amazing.
All I could think about was my father and his wife and my family and my cousin's family. How could this happen...why would it happen to such a great person as Clay? I don't know, I will never know...
God Bless you Kim. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Cher
Dear Kim,
I just read the story of your father's murder and my heart is crying and reaching out to you. I have been touched by homicide as well, a cousin, and although we weren't close, I did see what affects that it had on his parents, whom I was close to.
But your story mostly touched a place in my heart concerning my boyfriend Gary. His father was murdered by two teenage boys. What is our world coming to? Gary too is in law enforcement, as is his older brother. Your story reminded me much of Gary's own. He still aches for the loss of his father. The fact that the murder was committed by juvenilles should not matter. Just as in the case with your father, it was premeditated, that to me says all that needs to be said abaout how they should be punished. I don't know what to do for Gary, he has shared a great deal with me about his father. He even took me, at my request, without hesitation, to his father's grave. He is unable to visit often, so I felt this was a big leap of trust and comfort for him. I listen, I pray and I cry with him over his father. It has been a long time for him, but it is still as if it were yesterday. Gary carries the guilt of his dad's death. You see, that morning before his dad left to make deliveries, he had called home and asked Gary to please bring him his gun, it was just one of those feelings. Gary took his time and got there after his dad had already left. His father was also beatened and left to die. His mother has never remarried and Gary took over the responsiblities of being the male figure in their household. Is there anything that I can do for him, I want him to lose some of the bitterness and guilt that I see in him whenever he talks about his dad.
I will pray for you and your family. It was a wonderful thing for you to write the story about your dad. Gary also has written one, I will get the address for it and email it to you, Perhaps, this the road for healing for all concerned.
God Bless You,
Connie
Dear Kim,
My heart goes out to you and your family. I know firsthand the tremendous pain and sorrow caused by the senseless acts of another. Like you, my father was murdered also. It was in June 1998 by an angry co-worker. My dad was a warehouse manager for a major food distributor and was having trouble with this employee and had to take disciplinary action against him. The employee left and came back one hour later with a 40 caliber handgun and a vengence. My dad and two other employees were shot before the coward killed himself too. My father was the only fatality. It is just so unimaginable that someone could feel that a job is more important than a life! My dad was my mother's rock, best friend and whole life. They were inseperable and would have celebrated their 30th anniversary in April of '89. My children will never have their only grandfather to share in their joys and achievements. Our hearts will always have a huge hole where he should be. I just wanted you to know that I lost a wonderful, loving father as you did and I know your pain. Thanks for letting me share my story. May God bless you and your family and pray for all the others out there who also feel our pain.
Sincerely,
Kerri
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