Friends and family of Jessica Wilson gathered at the practice field of Jeanie Dean Elementary School at 8 p.m. Monday, for a candlelight vigil to remember the woman who was murdered in Bristow Sunday morning.
Wilson, 31, the victim of a fatal gun wound, passed away Sunday at a local hospital after allegedly being shot by suspect Edward Hale, 35, following an apparent domestic dispute. Hale’s body was found on the baseball field of T. Clay Elementary School around noon yesterday.
Jwan Banks, the coach of Wilson’s son’s Manassas Mutiny Cadet youth football team, organized the vigil for the community to come together and commemorate the loss of the boy's mother.
“We’re all one family. Even though it’s youth football, a sport, we stick together through trying times no matter what it is. We do whatever we have to do to help one another,” Banks said.
At the vigil, the coaches, players, and parents commemorated the loss of Wilson and recounted memories while lighting candles in her honor.
“She was always a nice, upbeat person. She was always there for her children and she was very into her kids,” Banks said.
Other parents from the football team also recalled memories of their fallen friend.
“She was sugar sweet. Anytime you needed something, she was there. She spent six hours making candy apples at our house last weekend for our [youth football team’s] fundraiser. She was very supportive of her children; they meant the world to her,” Adrian Miller, a team mother, said.
At the vigil, many of the football players that played with Wilson’s son signed sympathy boards for Wilson’s two children, while keeping their team motto “I’ve got your back” in mind.
“We are doing foam boards that say ‘With Deepest Sympathy’ on it and we are having everyone sign both of them, one for each of her children,” Miller said.
Wilson's funeral will be held Parish Baptist Church in Roanoke, Monday or Tuesday.
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!