Bloomington homeless and once-homeless remembered at memorial service for those who died
Laura Lane
A Sept. 29 memorial service on the Monroe County Courthouse lawn remembered by name 38 local people who died during the past 12 months who at some point experienced homelessness.
Grammy-award winning performer Sylvia McNair sang an Irish blessing. Candles were lit. Prayers were said aloud. Tears fell. The sun set.
The Rev. Forrest Gilmore, who oversees the Shalom Community Center for unhoused people, eulogized the dead, reminding people of the toll homelessness sometimes takes. The italicized words in this story are his.
"Each of these lives is significant to us. They mattered. And the world doesn't always tell them that. They carried extra burdens — the stigma, the injustice, the not getting a fair shake that is homelessness."
Evelyn Abbott, Adam Bennett, Joyce Berry, Michael Bieniek, Jeremy Blackwell, Aleah Bake, Mark Blakeslee, Bobbie Bugg, TyShawn Carter, Linda Collins.
"Some were living in a home, they were housed, when they passed. The majority of these people died with the dignity of a home. All of them have experienced homelessness."
Caleb Cowden, Crystal Czobakowski, Kevin Downs, Travis Dugan, Dennis Elkins, Mark Ewell, James Fishwick, Mary Hoene, Shannon Keenan.
"As the day and the night equalize, as we stand in the light and end up in the dark, we lift up the light and the core of this gathering, which is love."
Patricia Keith, Ron Kuntz, Kevin Kunz, John Lawrence, Mindy Lewis , Samantha Lindsey, Steven "Bumpy" Morgan, Jazzy Neighbors, Kim Patton, Robert Pinckney.
"May we cherish these people. Each and every one of them was loved by someone. We mourn the lives lost. We celebrate the lives lived."
Howard Pugh, Chris Ranard, Drew Shepherd, Athena Straface, Brian Ward, Ronnie West, Samantha "Sammy" Ray, Calvin "CJ" Young, Monty Zike. A few other names were shouted out.
"The level of bitterness toward people struggling so hard is staggering."
McNair's pitch-perfect song flowed into the night.
"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand."
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.