Posted on 08/31/2015 8:14:45 AM PDT by Perseverando
Alison Bailey Parker, loved by everyone who knew her, was taken from us at the age of 24 on August 26, 2015. Born in Annapolis, Md., Alison grew up in Collinsville, and graduated from Martinsville High School in 2009. Her many accomplishments included Piedmont District Swimmer of the Year award, Big M Trophy recipient, and a member of the jazz and concert bands where she played both trumpet and French horn. As a student at the Piedmont Governor's School for Math, Science and Technology, she was a member of the award winning robotics team. Alison was a gymnast, a beautiful dancer, and when kayaking with her family she grew to love the beauty of the rivers around us.
She was accepted into the James Madison University School of Media Arts and Design, and was a news editor at "The Breeze", a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, and was a tutor of freshmen calculus students. During her college summers she was a New College Institute intern for The United Way and MURA in Martinsville, and at WDBJ7 in Roanoke. She graduated from James Madison University in 2012 and joined the news team at WCTI12 in North Carolina as the Jacksonville bureau chief, covering Camp Lejeune and the surrounding area, where she relished the tough schedule and hard news. Alison was recruited to return to WDBJ7 in Roanoke as the Mornin' reporter last year, and she greeted viewers each weekday morning with a smile and her bubbly personality, hoping to make their day a little brighter. She loved her job and had such a bright future ahead in the field of journalism, but still found time to support her community. She was rehearsing to be a contestant in the Valley Stars benefit for the Salvation Army of Roanoke Turning Point, the only secure center in the Roanoke Valley for adult survivors and their children who are in imminent danger from family and intimate partner violence. She will be missed by everyone she touched, and she lived life to the fullest in her short time on earth.
She is survived by the love of her life, Chris L. Hurst of Roanoke; her parents, Andy and Barbara Parker of Collinsville; brother, Drew Parker of Mt. Airy, N.C.; grandmothers, Frances Bailey of Denison, Texas, and Gloria Parker of Austin, Texas; aunts, Lisa Foster of Sherman, Texas, Kristin Bailey Murphy of Hollywood, Calif., and Jane Ann Parker of Austin, Texas; and cousins, Kristin and Caitlin Miller of Dallas, Texas, Meredith Foster of Georgetown, Texas, and Jonas and Makenna Parker of Austin, Texas; and countless special friends like Sasha, Katie, and Georgina. She especially loved Jack and Sophie, the best dogs ever.
A celebration of Alison's life will be held at a later date after a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the following scholarship funds or charitable organizations, JMU Scholarship Alison B. Parker Memorial Fund, James Madison University, 220 University Blvd., Office of Annual Giving MSC 3603, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, http://bit.ly./1K3SqXq; Alison Bailey Parker Memorial Scholarship, Patrick Henry Community College Foundation, 645 Patriot Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112; patrickhenryfoundation.com. To donate to the Valley Stars and Salvation Army of Roanoke in Alison's name, visit https://www.valleydancing.com/.
Norris Funeral Services Inc. and Crematory Martinsville, 1500 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, VA 24112 is serving the Parker family. Online condolences may be made at www.NorrisFuneral.com.
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posted 3 days ago August 28th, 2015.
Adam Ward was tragically taken from this world on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. He was a bright light in our lives for 27 wonderful years.Adam was born on May 10, 1988, to Charles "Buddy" and Mary Lou Speas Ward of Daleville. Although he grew up in Botetourt with his sister and brother, Sarah and Jay, he was truly a Salem Spartan, born and bred. From childhood, he loved Salem sports, especially football, and joined his father, a guidance counselor at Salem High School, as a 7th grader in the school system. After high school, he fulfilled another dream by becoming a proud member of the Hokie Nation. Adam was the one with the painted chest in 20 degree weather screaming the loudest from the end zone. While at Tech, he discovered a passion for journalism and interned on the Greg Roberts Radio Show and at WDBJ-7, which eventually led to a full-time role post-graduation. It was there that he met his fiancée and the love of his life, Melissa Ott, of Gibbstown, N.J. They were together for a little over two years and were planning to get married in July 2016.Adam was known throughout the Roanoke Valley as a loyal and giving friend, a champion for the underdog, and someone who lived every day to the fullest. Everyone who met him instantly loved him. We'll always remember his smile and laughter.He was preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, who we know are spoiling him rotten right now.He is survived by his loving father and mother, Buddy and Mary Ward; sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Dave Crowder; brother, Jay Ward; fiancée, Melissa Ott; and niece, Olivia, or "tater tot" as her uncle Adam affectionately called her. He is also survived by numerous uncles and aunts; cousins; and a host of friends he considered family.A celebration of Adam's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Roanoke, 515 3rd Street SW, Roanoke with Pastor Rob Lough officiating. A private committal service will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Adam's family will receive friends on Monday, August 31, 2015, at Salem High School Auditorium, 400 Spartan Drive, Salem from 2 to 8 p.m. We encourage everyone to wear their colors and show their Spartan and Hokie pride.In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made to two scholarships set up in Adam's name, Salem Education Foundation and Alumni Association, P.O Box 1461, Salem, VA 24153 or to the Adam L. Ward Scholarship at Virginia Tech through WDBJ-7, 2807 Hershberger Road, NW, Roanoke, VA 24017.On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.
This is really a sad time for Alison and Adam's families and friends, for the Roanoke Valley, and so many who knew them or watched them on WDBJ7.
Adam Ward's family is receiving friends at Salem High School (Salem, VA) this afternoon and this evening.
Adam's funeral is in Roanoke tomorrow. I plan on attending.
The funeral will be at First Baptist Church which is a very large facility downtown. Adam didn't attend there, but many people are expected to attend so the church opened their doors to help out.
I have heard that First Baptist is providing lots of support personnel for the funeral: choir, musicians, audio/video, ushers, greeters, parking, etc.
I'm sure there will be a lot of security by Roanoke City Police. And I'm afraid it will probably be a national media event. Obviousl, it will be a local media event.
Haven’t seen as many people online who think this was faked since the Kennedy Assasination
I’m guessing many of those who claim the killings were “faked” are part of the BlackLivesMatter crowd. It’s disturbing—but not surprising—to see the number of folks who are referring to Flanagan as a hero on social media. Never mind that the guy was an absolute loon and none of his claims of “racism” could be supported. Because he was black and killed two former co-workers (who were white), the nut-job can now take his place in the pantheon, along with Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.
Well, my son’s roommate who went to 4 years of high school with the lady who was killed...and one of my best friend’s sons who works as a cameraman at WDBJ7 believe it. Ya...that’s our local, hometown station. It was quite a shock.
Haven’t seen as many people online who think this was faked since the Kennedy Assasination
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More than the idiot Sandy Hook hoaxers?
Cause there are boatloads of them here on this site.
It’s so sad. They were ambushed and helpless. I don’t have the words to describe the disgust I feel over what happened. That the “truthers” are now coming out of the woodwork like roaches adds to the disgust.
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