Hundreds attend vigil for victim of shooting

Wade Spees
The Post and Courier

Margaret Jones-McGill (glasses) watches a video presentation at a candlelight vigil in memory of her daughter Kimberly Jones, who was killed by a bullet fired into her St. Stephen apartment while she slept last week. Hundreds attended the service in the Timberland High School auditorium on Wednesday.

Kimberly Jones

ST. STEPHEN — More than 350 people attended a vigil for slaying victim Kimberly Jones Wednesday night at Timberland High School.

Jones, 24, a former Timberland student, died Aug. 14 after a bullet fired from outside her apartment struck her while she was sleeping. The case remains unsolved.

It was not easy to find someone who was not related to Jones in the crowd at the high school auditorium. She has a large, extended family from many parts of the Lowcountry.

"That was my cousin," Reginald Bryant said. "She was deeply loved.

The vigil was not somber but instead a celebration of Jones' life. She was the mother of four children, who are now staying with their grandmother.

Family and friends wore T-shirts and buttons with photographs of Jones. They danced and sang during several musical performances on stage.

Tameka Small, another cousin, sang "We Are One."

Jones' death was the second homicide in a year in this little town.

Ta'Mya Grant, 7, was beaten to death in her home on Welch Street in September 2007. No one has been charged in Grant's death.

Mayor Bobby Hoffman said the violence is something you would expect to see in a big city, not a small town like St. Stephen. He called upon the mourners at the vigil to pull together as a community and put an end to violent crime.

"In the last 12 months, we've had two fatalities, and it's senseless," Hoffman said. "Enough is enough."

Hoffman said investigators have leads in Jones' case, and he pledged to use every resource to bring her killer to justice.

Services

Viewing, 2-5 p.m. today at Gethers Funeral Home, 200 Grace St. in Moncks Corner.

Visitation, 6-8 p.m. today at Gethers Funeral Chapel, 221 Church Road in St. Stephen.

Funeral, 1 p.m. Friday at Refuge Temple-St. Stephen Church, 3674 N. U.S. Highway 52 in St. Stephen. Burial will follow the funeral, at Zion-Mack Cemetery on Beulah Tabernacle Road in St. Stephen.

To help police

To provide information about the shooting death of Kimberly Jones, call St. Stephen police at 567-3116 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.

Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.