BROWNSTOWN
As the sun rose above the trees and a gentle wind blew, more than 200 people gathered in a large circle outside Brownstown Central High School.
They all remained silent as Michael Goltry, associate minister at Driftwood Christian Church in Vallonia, shared words to help provide comfort as the school mourns the loss of two of its own, freshmen Nevaeh Law and Brittany Watson.
Those two along with Seymour High School junior Martin Martinez and freshman Jenna Helton were killed late Saturday night when they were hit by a vehicle as they helped push a broken-down vehicle along State Road 258 in Cortland.
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Five other local students, Starlit Watson, Victoria Burchard, Victoria Valdivia, Allerika Henline and Courtney Arthur, were injured.
At 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, students and staff members from the school stood alongside family members of the teens for a prayer vigil organized by the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Goltry told the students that if they need to talk to someone, there are people around to listen.
“You are not alone,” he said. “All of these people here care, God cares and I believe that if we stick together and help one another, we can make it through this. Everyone here is different. Everyone here is going to process this tragedy differently. Everyone here is going to need encouragement.”
He also told those gathered to rely on God.
“When we suffer, God suffers right there beside us,” he said. “When our hearts ache, God’s heart aches, and God understands the feelings we are going through. Mourn together with God. He desires to comfort you.”
In this difficult time, Goltry said sadness may not be the only feeling. There also may be anger, thinking about things that could have gone differently or trying to find somebody to blame.
He said some people may blame God for letting it happen or blame themselves, thinking they should have been a better friend.
But Goltry said that does no good for anyone because it doesn’t make the hurt go away.
“Instead of thinking about what you should have done differently, think about what you will do differently now, how you can be a better friend to those people around you,” he said.
Following a moment of silence, Goltry invited everyone to pray with him. Then he encouraged people to visit nearby tables to write notes on cards, which will be given to the families of the teens.
“Whenever a loved one passes away, it is very uplifting to hear good things about how that person impacted other people,” Goltry said.
Other ways to support the families are through Facebook and GoFundMe accounts set up online and other fundraisers.
Prayer is another option.
“I believe that God hears our prayers, and I believe that God sends the Holy Spirit to comfort us in times of grief,” Goltry said.
Senior Madisen Polly, a member of the FCA, said after hearing about the incident late Saturday night, she was contacted by one of the FCA advisers, Jennifer Shade, saying they need to do something.
“We thought it would be a great way for people to express their feelings through cards and encouragement to the family,” Polly said of the prayer vigil.
Word spread around the school about the vigil, and the community was invited to attend, too.
“It’s really nice to see the community come together in such a tragic time and that you have so much support from such a small place, everybody gathering and showing support,” Polly said.
Fellow FCA member Halle Hehman, a junior, was happy with the turnout, too.
“I think it’s a good example of what Brownstown really is and how everyone always comes together in a time of need,” she said. “That’s our goal. It’s to touch someone, so if there’s ever someone in need, we always want to be the first person to be there for them. Just being an extra shoulder for them to cry on, they need anyone they can right now.”
Both girls also were impacted by Goltry’s message.
“It’s such an important thing, encouraging people,” Polly said. “That’s what helps them carry on throughout their daily lives. Even being there and just saying, ‘Hey, I’m here for you for whatever you need,’ even that helps them so much, and it can really do a lot for someone.”
What stood out to Hehman was Goltry saying people’s emotions will change in the coming days, weeks and months.
“All they need is just someone to know they are thinking of them, to comfort them, know that they are not alone,” she said. “It really makes a big difference.”
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Inside
Local services available for grief
Fundraisers continue to support families of those killed and injured in wreck
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