chidiebere
17-year-old Alex Murphy was last spotted at a Liberty Gas Station near her home in Lovingston on Aug. 3 2013 about 7:15 p.m.
Musicians came from all over Virginia to help raise money for the cause. Songs of praise filled Calvary Baptist Church in Lovingston Saturday.
Minister Barry Douglas says the community wants to bring hope to a family still grieving. “Through gospel, that is your hope, and we just wanted to be where it spreads throughout the community to the family through gospel music, something that I know is dear to her family.”
Performers traveled from all across the commonwealth to offer their support to Alexis Murphy’s family and raise money for a scholarship in her name. “It’s a chance for me to give of myself. For us to be able to do that musically, that’s something that I love to do, so it’s a great feeling to be able to do that,” says Patience Johnson, New Creation Gospel Singers.
“Those songs give the family encouragement, that even through this tragic time, God, he’s still able, we can cry our last tears yesterday because he’s going to take us through this process that they’re going through,” says Joy Nowell, singer.
Murphy’s cousin Ramonia Vest helped organize the festival. She says the community support is what helps the family move forward every day. “It means a lot to us. I’ve been doing this for two years and I’ve seen a large group and I’ve seen small groups, but we’re going to, I’m going to continue what I’ve been doing for the past two years. We’re going to do scholarship fundraisers every year. Basketball tournaments, volleyball tournaments, softball tournaments, we’ll do two to three of those a year.”
Douglass says by remembering Murphy, there is hope that violence will end. “At the end of the day, it’s all about bringing awareness so that it doesn’t happen again.”
The event featured six different musical groups.
Murphy’s cousin says that scholarship fund donated $1,500 to seniors at Nelson County High School last year.
