Published: May 18, 2008 01:02 am            

A walk with purpose: Memorial hopes to give voice to those who need to speak

Warm sunshine and warm hearts filled early morning hours Saturday at Jeffersonville’s Warder Park.

The memorial walk, which attracted more than 50 people, started at the park on Spring Street and ended about a mile farther at Parkview Middle School with hopes in remembering Chandler Florence — who died at age 13 just 17 months ago.

“We all need to be responsible for the children,” Chandler's mother, Kim Florence, said. “I am blessed (now) and have a great family.”

Kim Florence wanted to add the memory of another student who recently died to Saturday’s walk. Michael Babbot passed away in February in the same way Florence’s son died — as the result of a choking game where kids cut off their airway by strangulation in an attempt to feel the “rush” when pressure is releasd.

Babbot’s mother did not attend Saturday’s event because she was still grieving the loss of her son.

The memory of Chandler has started a scholarship that will be awarded in 2011 when Chandler would have graduated high school.

“I was grieving and didn’t want the money that people were giving to me,” Kim said. She added that that she would like to be a voice that kids can speak to about the pressures of life, such as suicide, grief, drugs and alcohol. Although her son’s death was ruled by the coroner as a suicide, she feels that his death was accidental.

When thinking about the day he died she said, “It (his death) was a freak thing. I spoke to him two times that day and everything was fine. But something happened in between those times and no one has come forward.”

Chandler's father, David Florence, said he was really appreciative of the tree memorial stone that Clark Memorial Hospital’s x-ray department donated at Walnut Ridge Cemetery. David said he is still trying to heal from the loss of his son. “You have your up and down days, good and bad. We call the bad days ‘Chandler days,’” he said.

David said that people call and vent their frustrations about Chandler’s death. “I didn’t know he touched so many people,” David said. “It is still very painful and I appreciate the support from everyone.”

“It (grief) is like a baby walking and I want to let the community know they have an outlet,” Kim said.

        

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