Community gathers to grieve – but also celebrate 4 lives
By DONNA THORNTON, Editor
It was a time when words fail, pastor Andrew Brock acknowledged, when “you just can’t find the words to say and when you can’t even find the words to pray.”
But a group of people gathered Friday evening to pray and offer support for families grieving after a tragic traffic crash April 11.
The accident, at the intersection of Alabama 157 and Alabama 24 in the Moulton area, initially claimed the lives of three people: Ashley Hagood, 33, her son Bryant Bellew, 13, and daughter Bryleigh Pledger, 7.
Days later, Bryleigh’s twin Brynleigh died from her injuries. Bentley Pledger, 10, was also injured. He’s since been released from the hospital.
Friends and family gathered for a prayer vigil at Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park to support the three families affected by the crash — the Pledger, Ballew and Hagood families.
The twins’ father and stepmother, Tyler and Miranda Pledger, stood before a table displaying several photos of the children and their families as prayers were offered and Christian music played.
Brock said at such times he thanks God for Scripture — that when we don’t have words, He has the words for us. He read Psalm 23, and reminded those present that we have hope in the Lord beyond the shadow of death.
Pastor Jon Henderson spoke of the resurrection of Lazarus, and the shortest verse of the Bible, “Jesus wept.”
“He felt their pain,” he said. “It’s often sometimes in the darkest moment that we’ll experience Jesus to the depth that we can’t even understand.
“We’re not going to have a funeral. We’re going to have a celebration. We’re going to worship because we do have hope that death now is a doorway, not a dead end for us.”
The gathering ended with many of those present joining, hands raised, to sing of the goodness of God.
Family and friends gather Friday at Sand Mountain Park to mourn the loss of – and celebrate the lives of – Ashley Hagood and her children Bryant Bellew and Bryleigh and Brynleigh Pledger in a car crash April 11 in Moulton. The event was also a way to show support for the family members and 10-year-old Bentley Pledger, who was injured and is home from the hospital. Photo by DONNA THORNTON l The Leader
