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Lisa Darracott not too long ago discovered her 2000 yearbook from her junior yr at Itawamba Agricultural Excessive Faculty with a whole web page reserved for her greatest pal since kindergarten, Leesa Grey.
In half a web page of writing, Grey thanked Darracott for being a terrific pal who supported her and made her giggle, however Grey didn’t get the chance to complete the message.
The ultimate bell let college students out for the summer time. Weeks later in June, members of the Dorsey neighborhood and college students discovered that Grey was murdered.
“For these of us who had been round when it occurred, it nonetheless feels prefer it simply occurred,” Darracott mentioned. “It doesn’t really feel like 22 years.”
On Wednesday, Darracott will journey to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman for the deadly injection execution of Grey’s killer, Thomas Loden Jr., who obtained the demise sentence for Grey’s rape and homicide.
Relations, together with Grey’s mom Wanda Farris, are anticipated to witness the execution.
Darracott remembers Grey as a pleasant particular person with a pleasant smile who appreciated to do make-up and magnificence hair. They may take a look at one another and know what was on one another’s thoughts, she mentioned.
Grey completed the college yr as junior class vice chairman and had simply left work at her household’s eatery, Comer’s Restaurant, when Loden kidnapped her.
She was a member of teams that mirrored many pursuits: refrain, juniorettes and Future Educators of America, in line with her obituary. Grey explored a future in enterprise as a member of Future Enterprise Leaders of America and secretary of DECA, the aggressive pupil entrepreneurship group.
“She was a candy Christian woman, liked the Lord, had loads of life forward of her,” Wanda Farris instructed the Related Press final month.
Grey left behind her mom, stepfather Mike Farris, father John Grey and youthful brother James Farris. Mississippi As we speak reached out to a number of relations, however they weren’t accessible for remark.
The Dorsey neighborhood was left reeling after Grey’s demise on June 23, 2000, the Every day Journal reported on the time. A day earlier when she went lacking after work, her household, neighborhood and regulation enforcement launched a search earlier than discovering her physique in Loden’s van.
Loden, a gunnery sergeant and Marine Corps recruiter, was arrested and pleaded responsible.
Over 1,000 folks attended Grey’s funeral providers at her highschool.
The senior class of 2001 and senior youth group at her church, Bethel Baptist Church, had been honorary pallbearers.
Ending highschool with out her was onerous, Darracott mentioned, and Grey’s absence was felt at milestones like promenade and commencement.
When Darracott married, she pictured Grey there as her maid of honor. If Grey had been nonetheless alive, Darracott questioned what sort of profession her pal would have, the particular person she would marry and whether or not she would have youngsters of her personal.
“There was at all times a gap the place she ought to have been,” Darracott mentioned.
Over time, Grey’s household, mates and neighborhood members have stored up with developments in Loden’s case, which has included state and federal appeals during the last 20 years.
Final month, Farris and a number of other mates traveled to Jackson for a listening to earlier than U.S. District Decide Henry Wingate, who’s listening to a case difficult Mississippi’s use of a three-drug combine for deadly injection.
Loden joined that case and the choose thought of whether or not to grant Loden a keep till it was determined, however Wingate in the end denied that request, per week earlier than the scheduled execution.
“I forgave him a very long time in the past,” Farris instructed the information retailers final week. “It’s essential forgive to maneuver on. You may’t preserve all that bitterness inside.”
A prayer vigil is scheduled for Wednesday, 5 p.m. the day of the execution, at Bethel Baptist Church in Fulton. Individuals are requested to put on purple to point out assist for Grey.
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