Mesquite News > News
Classmates, friends host vigil for missing woman
By Kenny Green, kgreen@acnpapers.com
A cul-de-sac in East Dallas filled with classmates and friends of 1977 Mesquite High School graduate Lisa Stone on Friday evening.
The crowd gathered inside a circle to host a prayer vigil for the return of Stone, who has been missing since early June.
“Although there is nothing specific we can report to you at this time that doesn’t mean that nothing is being done,” said Tammye Markle, a longtime friend of Stone and organizer of the vigil. “Rest assured that the police are working diligently to follow up with all leads that come forward. This is a very difficult case and we have been asked to be patient with the process. The right thing is going to happen. Patience is very difficult to muster during a time like this. Many of you here are Skeeter alumni; we have been amazed at how former MHS graduates have come together to support us.”
Markle was followed by a musical performance of “You’ve Got a friend” by Billy White, one of Stone’s MHS classmates. White also performed “Bridge over Troubled Water” during the vigil.
“I have known Lisa for 45 plus years,” said Brenda Hughes, another of Stone’s close friends. “We were the closest in middle school; all we talked about was becoming all-stars. She loved all of her close friends. She has a lot of friends, that’s obvious here tonight.”
Another one of those friends is Sherry Willmon, who couldn’t be there, but sent in a text message read by Hughes.
“Lisa lit up a crowded room when she walked into it,” the message read. “She was always smiling. Lisa was everybody’s best friend; I miss her very much.”
Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes, also a graduate of the MHS class of 1977, shared the memories of his friend.
“Lisa growing up was a little bit of a tomboy,” he said. “I think she could outrun and beat up every boy at Rutherford Elementary. Lisa was not a hand-shaker, she was a hugger. She accepted everyone for what they were. It is just great that this crowd could come out tonight.
“We never know what tomorrow is going to hold.”
Another close friend of Stone’s, Joni Shannon, spoke at the vigil.
“We are getting at an age where life and death go hand in hand whether we want to admit that or not,” she said. “Holding grudges and harboring anger hurts us and not the other person.”
Claudia Wilk also reflected on her friend, saying “I cannot remember not knowing Lisa. Lisa had a wonderful sense of humor, (she was) very lively.”
Wilk turned Stone’s full name, Lisa Lynn Stone, into a poem that she recited for the crowd. Each word, she said, reminded her of a characteristic that Stone possessed.
Stone’s friend Tina Wiley spoke of her passion to see justice is done.
“I will always remember when last she spoke my name,” Wiley said. “I will not let go of this until answers are found. I will not let go of this until she is found, until her perpetrator is caught.”
Following Wiley, there was a performance of “Amazing Grace” after which balloons with information about Stone were released into the air in hopes they will reach someone with information about the disappearance.
To show support for Stone, her friends ask people to join the Facebook page they created to share thoughts and provide updates at: facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=134429133245857&v=wall&ref=ts. The group is also seeking donations to help purchase a billboard to get the word out about their missing friend.
The crowd gathered inside a circle to host a prayer vigil for the return of Stone, who has been missing since early June.
“Although there is nothing specific we can report to you at this time that doesn’t mean that nothing is being done,” said Tammye Markle, a longtime friend of Stone and organizer of the vigil. “Rest assured that the police are working diligently to follow up with all leads that come forward. This is a very difficult case and we have been asked to be patient with the process. The right thing is going to happen. Patience is very difficult to muster during a time like this. Many of you here are Skeeter alumni; we have been amazed at how former MHS graduates have come together to support us.”
Markle was followed by a musical performance of “You’ve Got a friend” by Billy White, one of Stone’s MHS classmates. White also performed “Bridge over Troubled Water” during the vigil.
“I have known Lisa for 45 plus years,” said Brenda Hughes, another of Stone’s close friends. “We were the closest in middle school; all we talked about was becoming all-stars. She loved all of her close friends. She has a lot of friends, that’s obvious here tonight.”
Another one of those friends is Sherry Willmon, who couldn’t be there, but sent in a text message read by Hughes.
“Lisa lit up a crowded room when she walked into it,” the message read. “She was always smiling. Lisa was everybody’s best friend; I miss her very much.”
Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes, also a graduate of the MHS class of 1977, shared the memories of his friend.
“Lisa growing up was a little bit of a tomboy,” he said. “I think she could outrun and beat up every boy at Rutherford Elementary. Lisa was not a hand-shaker, she was a hugger. She accepted everyone for what they were. It is just great that this crowd could come out tonight.
“We never know what tomorrow is going to hold.”
Another close friend of Stone’s, Joni Shannon, spoke at the vigil.
“We are getting at an age where life and death go hand in hand whether we want to admit that or not,” she said. “Holding grudges and harboring anger hurts us and not the other person.”
Claudia Wilk also reflected on her friend, saying “I cannot remember not knowing Lisa. Lisa had a wonderful sense of humor, (she was) very lively.”
Wilk turned Stone’s full name, Lisa Lynn Stone, into a poem that she recited for the crowd. Each word, she said, reminded her of a characteristic that Stone possessed.
Stone’s friend Tina Wiley spoke of her passion to see justice is done.
“I will always remember when last she spoke my name,” Wiley said. “I will not let go of this until answers are found. I will not let go of this until she is found, until her perpetrator is caught.”
Following Wiley, there was a performance of “Amazing Grace” after which balloons with information about Stone were released into the air in hopes they will reach someone with information about the disappearance.
To show support for Stone, her friends ask people to join the Facebook page they created to share thoughts and provide updates at: facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=134429133245857&v=wall&ref=ts. The group is also seeking donations to help purchase a billboard to get the word out about their missing friend.
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