A vigil was held Wednesday morning on the quad of James Madison University in memoriam of Roanoke-based WDBJ-TV news reporter Alison Parker. Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward were shot and killed a week ago Wednesday by a former colleague during an early morning broadcast. WMRA’s Kara Lofton reports.
[Overtones sing]
By 6:45 a.m., a bleary-faced crowd of James Madison University affiliates and community members had gathered in a semi-circle on the university quad to honor Alison Parker’s life and contribution to the university through a vigil. Parker was a 2012 graduate of JMU’s school of media arts and design.
BRAD JENKINS: It’s my honor today to be able to lead us in a moment of celebrating a very promising woman and her life.
That was Brad Jenkins, general manager of JMU’s student newspaper, The Breeze, for which Parker worked as a student.
JENKINS: In times like this when life is snatched up in such a horrific way we stammer as we search for words to make sense of such tragedy. Even those of us in the business of words have struggled the past week to describe our grief and our sadness. So then our first response this morning will be to spend a moment in silence, honoring our friend and alumna.
[Silence (crickets), then Overtones sing “Amazing Grace”]
The memorial service for Parker and fellow photojournalist Adam Ward was held privately on Sunday in Roanoke.