Obituary:
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—Friday, 23 October 2009
ESSEX JUNCTION—Shatavia "CeCe" Alford was remembered Thursday evening for her infectious smile and for her dancing, but most of all, for the quality of her friendship.
The recurrent comment offered in her memory by fellow students at Essex High School was that "she was always there for you.
"She always knew exactly what to say to cheer you up," said Kimberly Hesson, who with classmate Miranda Gwinn organized the informal memorial service for Alford, who was slain at home Oct. 15. The alleged attacker is Alford's aunt, Latonia A.E. Congress, who is charged with second-degree murder.
The event, punctuated frequently by hugs and tears, drew more than 100 people, including students, school staffers and members of Alford's extended family. The setting was a shelter in the Maple Street park amid a cold, steady rain.
Alford, 16, had been at Essex High just over a year, but she apparently left a deep impression on her classmates. A fellow student opened the observance by singing a song she'd written about Alford. Then about a dozen people, mostly students, responded to Hesson's invitation to speak in Alford's memory....
Rob Reardon, principal of Essex High, said Alford was a pleasure to have as a student. "The thing I'll remember is her radiant smile," he said.
Linda Cloutier-Namdar, who had Alford in ninth-grade English last year, remembered that Alford was particularly proud of her family and "worked so hard to be a good student," with dreams of a good life in the future.
The speakers stood in front of a large color photo of Alford, illuminated by candles on a table set about with flowers. A prayer was offered by Barbara Lemmel of the Essex Center United Methodist Church, who asked everyone to join hands....
In another article:
WCAX.com
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—16 October 2009
Latonia Congress, 30, had no criminal history until she appeared in court to be charged with murder.
Her attorney, public defender Margaret Jansch, described Congress as a church-going woman with no history of violence. She is a mother responsible for three children of her own and the guardian of four more children, including the victim, Shatavia Alford—her 16-year-old niece and a sophomore at Essex High School.
"Ms. Congress has been taking care of the decedent since she was eight years old," Jansch said, "and it was apparently a very close relationship. My understanding is she was granted legal guardianship some time ago, so it's tragic."
Police were called to the family's home on South Street in Essex at 6 p.m. Thursday. Alford was on the floor, bleeding and having trouble breathing. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
"There was an argument, it may have been over laundry, and a physical altercation ensued," prosecutor T.J. Donovan said. "Subsequently the defendant allegedly took a knife, stated she was going to kill the 16-year-old, and allegedly stabbed her in the chest."
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—Friday, 23 October 2009
ESSEX JUNCTION—Shatavia "CeCe" Alford was remembered Thursday evening for her infectious smile and for her dancing, but most of all, for the quality of her friendship.
The recurrent comment offered in her memory by fellow students at Essex High School was that "she was always there for you.
"She always knew exactly what to say to cheer you up," said Kimberly Hesson, who with classmate Miranda Gwinn organized the informal memorial service for Alford, who was slain at home Oct. 15. The alleged attacker is Alford's aunt, Latonia A.E. Congress, who is charged with second-degree murder.
The event, punctuated frequently by hugs and tears, drew more than 100 people, including students, school staffers and members of Alford's extended family. The setting was a shelter in the Maple Street park amid a cold, steady rain.
Alford, 16, had been at Essex High just over a year, but she apparently left a deep impression on her classmates. A fellow student opened the observance by singing a song she'd written about Alford. Then about a dozen people, mostly students, responded to Hesson's invitation to speak in Alford's memory....
Rob Reardon, principal of Essex High, said Alford was a pleasure to have as a student. "The thing I'll remember is her radiant smile," he said.
Linda Cloutier-Namdar, who had Alford in ninth-grade English last year, remembered that Alford was particularly proud of her family and "worked so hard to be a good student," with dreams of a good life in the future.
The speakers stood in front of a large color photo of Alford, illuminated by candles on a table set about with flowers. A prayer was offered by Barbara Lemmel of the Essex Center United Methodist Church, who asked everyone to join hands....
In another article:
WCAX.com
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—16 October 2009
Latonia Congress, 30, had no criminal history until she appeared in court to be charged with murder.
Her attorney, public defender Margaret Jansch, described Congress as a church-going woman with no history of violence. She is a mother responsible for three children of her own and the guardian of four more children, including the victim, Shatavia Alford—her 16-year-old niece and a sophomore at Essex High School.
"Ms. Congress has been taking care of the decedent since she was eight years old," Jansch said, "and it was apparently a very close relationship. My understanding is she was granted legal guardianship some time ago, so it's tragic."
Police were called to the family's home on South Street in Essex at 6 p.m. Thursday. Alford was on the floor, bleeding and having trouble breathing. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
"There was an argument, it may have been over laundry, and a physical altercation ensued," prosecutor T.J. Donovan said. "Subsequently the defendant allegedly took a knife, stated she was going to kill the 16-year-old, and allegedly stabbed her in the chest."
Obituary:
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—Friday, 23 October 2009
ESSEX JUNCTION—Shatavia "CeCe" Alford was remembered Thursday evening for her infectious smile and for her dancing, but most of all, for the quality of her friendship.
The recurrent comment offered in her memory by fellow students at Essex High School was that "she was always there for you.
"She always knew exactly what to say to cheer you up," said Kimberly Hesson, who with classmate Miranda Gwinn organized the informal memorial service for Alford, who was slain at home Oct. 15. The alleged attacker is Alford's aunt, Latonia A.E. Congress, who is charged with second-degree murder.
The event, punctuated frequently by hugs and tears, drew more than 100 people, including students, school staffers and members of Alford's extended family. The setting was a shelter in the Maple Street park amid a cold, steady rain.
Alford, 16, had been at Essex High just over a year, but she apparently left a deep impression on her classmates. A fellow student opened the observance by singing a song she'd written about Alford. Then about a dozen people, mostly students, responded to Hesson's invitation to speak in Alford's memory....
Rob Reardon, principal of Essex High, said Alford was a pleasure to have as a student. "The thing I'll remember is her radiant smile," he said.
Linda Cloutier-Namdar, who had Alford in ninth-grade English last year, remembered that Alford was particularly proud of her family and "worked so hard to be a good student," with dreams of a good life in the future.
The speakers stood in front of a large color photo of Alford, illuminated by candles on a table set about with flowers. A prayer was offered by Barbara Lemmel of the Essex Center United Methodist Church, who asked everyone to join hands....
In another article:
WCAX.com
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—16 October 2009
Latonia Congress, 30, had no criminal history until she appeared in court to be charged with murder.
Her attorney, public defender Margaret Jansch, described Congress as a church-going woman with no history of violence. She is a mother responsible for three children of her own and the guardian of four more children, including the victim, Shatavia Alford—her 16-year-old niece and a sophomore at Essex High School.
"Ms. Congress has been taking care of the decedent since she was eight years old," Jansch said, "and it was apparently a very close relationship. My understanding is she was granted legal guardianship some time ago, so it's tragic."
Police were called to the family's home on South Street in Essex at 6 p.m. Thursday. Alford was on the floor, bleeding and having trouble breathing. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
"There was an argument, it may have been over laundry, and a physical altercation ensued," prosecutor T.J. Donovan said. "Subsequently the defendant allegedly took a knife, stated she was going to kill the 16-year-old, and allegedly stabbed her in the chest."
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—Friday, 23 October 2009
ESSEX JUNCTION—Shatavia "CeCe" Alford was remembered Thursday evening for her infectious smile and for her dancing, but most of all, for the quality of her friendship.
The recurrent comment offered in her memory by fellow students at Essex High School was that "she was always there for you.
"She always knew exactly what to say to cheer you up," said Kimberly Hesson, who with classmate Miranda Gwinn organized the informal memorial service for Alford, who was slain at home Oct. 15. The alleged attacker is Alford's aunt, Latonia A.E. Congress, who is charged with second-degree murder.
The event, punctuated frequently by hugs and tears, drew more than 100 people, including students, school staffers and members of Alford's extended family. The setting was a shelter in the Maple Street park amid a cold, steady rain.
Alford, 16, had been at Essex High just over a year, but she apparently left a deep impression on her classmates. A fellow student opened the observance by singing a song she'd written about Alford. Then about a dozen people, mostly students, responded to Hesson's invitation to speak in Alford's memory....
Rob Reardon, principal of Essex High, said Alford was a pleasure to have as a student. "The thing I'll remember is her radiant smile," he said.
Linda Cloutier-Namdar, who had Alford in ninth-grade English last year, remembered that Alford was particularly proud of her family and "worked so hard to be a good student," with dreams of a good life in the future.
The speakers stood in front of a large color photo of Alford, illuminated by candles on a table set about with flowers. A prayer was offered by Barbara Lemmel of the Essex Center United Methodist Church, who asked everyone to join hands....
In another article:
WCAX.com
Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT—16 October 2009
Latonia Congress, 30, had no criminal history until she appeared in court to be charged with murder.
Her attorney, public defender Margaret Jansch, described Congress as a church-going woman with no history of violence. She is a mother responsible for three children of her own and the guardian of four more children, including the victim, Shatavia Alford—her 16-year-old niece and a sophomore at Essex High School.
"Ms. Congress has been taking care of the decedent since she was eight years old," Jansch said, "and it was apparently a very close relationship. My understanding is she was granted legal guardianship some time ago, so it's tragic."
Police were called to the family's home on South Street in Essex at 6 p.m. Thursday. Alford was on the floor, bleeding and having trouble breathing. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
"There was an argument, it may have been over laundry, and a physical altercation ensued," prosecutor T.J. Donovan said. "Subsequently the defendant allegedly took a knife, stated she was going to kill the 16-year-old, and allegedly stabbed her in the chest."
Bio by: DogMama08
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