On December 18, the names of over 70 individuals were read. For each name read, a bell was rung and a candle was lit. The names were those of persons who passed away in 2018 on the streets of Central Florida, or in emergency shelters. This service is always held near Dec. 21, the longest night of the year, in recognition of the difficulties that nighttime causes for those who have no home.
The service was truly moving. Case workers, community members, and homeless individuals shared stories and memories about their deceased loved ones. Over 200 members of the Central Florida community came out to honor and remember the lives of their homeless neighbors.
It is our privilege to host this service each year. We’d like to thank Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, St. James Cathedral, and Summit Church for co-sponsoring this event with us, and for helping us to honor the lives of those who passed away in 2018 after having experience homelessness.
“Someone once said, that everyone dies twice: first, when you take your last breath, and second, when your name is spoken for the last time. It is important to speak the names and remember those who, although less fortunate than some, were part of our community and deserve to be acknowledged. ”
– Don Price, Sexton of Orlando’s Greenwood Cemetery
Names of those honored
Woodrow Acres
Betty Andrade
Trevor Ayton
Teresa Bales
Daniel Barnes
Howard Beard
Newton Becket
Judith Binkley
Richard Bishop
Jim Brown
Walter L. Brown
Scott Brady
Daniel Branch
Robert Brin
David Brinklow
Robert Burchfield
Debra Ann Campbell
Michael Carter
Mary Anne Castillo
John Colman
Bonnie Cooke
Carlos Cosey
Mike Creger
David Earl Crowe
Michael Anthony Davis
Timothy DeJean
Elvin Delgado
Darryl Dozier
Mindy Engstrom
Harold Ford
Brittany Fox
Tracy Anne Fraser
Donald Freymoyer
Dawn Green
Patti Grossman
Kimberly Hand
Jason Hartshorne
Lawrence Holden
James Henry Hopson
Patrick Houle
Jeffrey Hudson
Larry Jackson
WIlliam Joseph
James Kearce
Zac Kennedy
Dawn Klenk
Georgia Landers
Bernard Leighton
Carol Lutz
Robert Mauck
Robert “Road Dog” McConnell
Lynette McPherson
Catherine Elaine Merck
James Ronnie Miller
Nelson Montero
Ivan “Dick” Morgan
Qawi Muhammed
Jerry Noel
Timothy Noffsinger
Axel Oquendo Javier
Mike Pastore
Ida May Pesole
Michael Stapler
Dean Stearns
David Steele
Dan Taczak
Timothy Turner
Thomas Udinski
Gladys Velez
Ernest Ward
Christopher Alan Washington
Stephen Weimer
Eugene West
Warren Whisonant
James L. Wilson
Paul Anthony Wright
William Yocum
