Posted on 01/30/2005 10:00:55 AM PST by NativeTexun
LIGHT OF FAMILY'S LIFE LOVE ONES GATHER TO REMEMBER
By KENNETH DEAN, Staff Writer January 29, 2005
An outpouring of love and support was evident Saturday afternoon as more than 1,000 people paid their respects to a young woman whose life was cut short after she was abducted from a Tyler retail store earlier this month and shot dead.
Megan LeAnn Holden, 19, of Chandler, was described as a vibrant person who cared about others more than herself and a woman whose smile brightened many lives.
THE ABDUCTION
Ms. Holden was abducted from the Wal-Mart at Texas Highway 64 west and Loop 323 Jan. 19 after she finished working her shift.
Surveillance video captured the abduction and led police to her alleged assailant and killer, Johnny Lee Williams Jr., 24, of Tyler.
Williams was captured Jan. 21 in Arizona after he sought medical attention for a gunshot wound police believe he sustained during a failed robbery attempt.
Ms. Holden's body was discovered later the same day along Interstate 20 in Martin County.
Williams is set to be brought back to Texas after he waived his extradition rights Friday.
REMEMBERING MEGAN
Those attending the service Saturday at the Green Acres Baptist Church sanctuary could not help but have teary eyes as a slide show set to music showed Ms. Holden as a baby and growing up.
The pictures showed a young girl who seemed to love the camera and who always had a smile on her face.
Justin Luscombe, Ms. Holden's cousin, described her as goofy but a light of the family's life who would be missed.
"She always made me smile and she always made me laugh, and that is how I will remember her," he said.
The Rev. Jeff Stanley, a Henderson pastor, said the young woman had touched many lives, including his own.
"This is a celebration of life service today. If you are a Christian, then you are not saying goodbye, but instead you are saying bye for now," Stanley said during the eulogy.
Stanley said he remembered when he first met Ms. Holden and her sister Crisa when they were teenagers trying to deal with being relocated to a new town.
"Megan was so shy, but she always had a smile on her face. Her smile was her trademark. The one thing that was constant about her was her smile. It would melt you," he said.
Stanley recalled approaching Ms. Holden - then a junior high student in Henderson - and asking her where she would go to eat if she could choose any restaurant.
"She said McDonald's, and I said 'I asked if you could choose anywhere.' She replied again, McDonald's," he said.
Stanley said a few days later, he showed up at the school and brought a lunch for Megan from McDonald's.
"We sat there and it was just the two of us. But as other students saw her smile and face light up I said to them, 'Have you met Megan?' And it wasn't long before she had made friends with almost everyone," he said.
Stanley said although Ms. Holden was laid to rest in a small cemetery in rural Rusk County, her voice would be heard for years to come.
"Megan knew her purpose in life. She didn't care about how much money someone had or what kind of car he or she drove. We all live in a selfish world, where it is all about us. With Megan it wasn't about her, but it was about you. She cared about others more than herself," he said.
"The tragedy that took her life can lead others to be a Christ follower, because that is what she would have wanted most."
Stanley said everyone would remember Ms. Holden in his or her own way, but he knew his memories would be filled with the young woman he saw her grow to be from the unsure teen.
"Megan's favorite color was blue, and I bought this tie because of that. Every time I wear it I will think of her," he said.
FAMILY THANKS
Luscombe thanked all who showed their support in the family's time of grief.
"On behalf of the Megan Holden family, we say thank you. Your support and prayers have been a comfort to us," he said.
In the back of the program, entitled "Precious Memories of Megan LeAnn Holden," was a statement from the family.
"Perhaps you sent a lovely card or sat quietly in a chair. Perhaps you sent a floral piece, if so we saw it there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words, as any friend could say. Perhaps you were not there at all, just thought of us on that day. Whatever you did to console our hearts, we thank you so much, whatever the part," the statement read.
Many prayers for her family and friends. However, it's a wonderful feeling to know that she is in heaven right now enjoying the company of God. God bless.
Yes, victorious end to such a disaster. Williams took her earthly life with his actions sending her to an eternal life .. albeit prematurely.
They need to try this guy in Martin County.
He'd get the needle --- no doubt --- in West Texas.
East Texas juries, in contrast, are less predictable in these things.
>>East Texas juries, in contrast, are less predictable in these things.<<
What makes you say this?
I'd be surprised to find anyone in East Texas that hasn't heard of the matter. And I don't think they'll go soft on this .. it's just too personal .. happening here .. a young girl .. too many reasons for a jury to want maximum
There is a quote from Thornton Wilder's great classic The Bridge Over San Luis Rey that reads:
"'Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan"
Her untimely death is a mystery to me, even more so is why God allows murderers in a moment--to kill the innocent
I've just been involved in a number of jury trials in East Texas. (Own a small oil company and do a fair bit of drilling in East Texas.)
You are -slightly- more likely to find defendant-sympathetic whites and nonwhites in an East Texas jury pool than a West Texas jury pool.
All the people that know/heard of/etc this lady will be kicked off the jury.
Martin County --- Stanton being the county seat --- are mean square-headed Germans. (The townspeople's nickname are "Soreheads.")
A Martin county jury is unsympathetic, the judge is so damn mean he made a father-who-figured-out-the-kids-weren't his pay child support anyway. (Seriously)
They'd give the death penalty in about 2 seconds. They'd even go to Wal-Mart and buy the rope.
Oh, and don't get me wrong, I think he'll fry in East Texas, too.
It's just a sure thing in Martin County.
>>Her untimely death is a mystery to me, even more so is why God allows murderers in a moment--to kill the innocent <<
Abortions are murder of the innocents.
God didn't make people robots, He made them with free will. Some choose to live Godly lives, some choose to go their own way.
>>A Martin county jury is unsympathetic, the judge is so damn mean <<
HA!
It will be hard to find anyone who hasn't heard of the incident for the jury. You think a change of venue might be requested.
This is so sad.
You think a change of venue might be requested.
I do think one will be requested. And I think they should grant it --- to Martin County.
Out of the frying pan . . . .
I dunnoe .. the Laney trial was held here and everyone knew about the wacko that stoned two children to death and permanently disabled another.
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