In a beautiful ceremony this morning, the Foxwell Family opened their hearts by allowing the community, (1,000+) to gather and celebrate Sarah Foxwell.Sarah's actual funeral was last Thursday in a private ceremony, very fitting under the circumstances.
Sheriff Mike Lewis gave an unbelievable eulogy while becoming emotional two different times. As many of you can understand, Sheriff Lewis has two beautiful children and I can assure you, this touched home like never before.
Earnie Leatherbury and Davis Ruark were also kind enough to get up and speak, expressing their condolences, all three recognizing and thanking the community that had been so divided, now coming together with a glimpse of hope for the future.
Sarah's Mother Jennifer, her Father Tom and her Grandmother also got up and spoke, as well as some of Sarah's best friends and school mates. Rev. Dr. William L. Warren and Rev. Thomas Bunting Officiated the event at the Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Salisbury.
I'm at a loss for words Folks.
45 comments:
Sometimes there are no words, only tears.
This was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful little angel. I cried most of the service from all the touching words and songs. I will keep the Foxwell family in my prayers and may God help them heal and put their lives back together.
Thank you for sharing Sarah's story with your readers. How wonderful that the community was given this opportunity to show their love and support for Sarah. This tragic event has changed Wicomico County forever.
To everyone who turned out for Haleybug, Thank You.
I did come to this event for Sarah and it was amazingly beautiful I was suprised to see all the people hat came and everyone that went up there to speak are very brave cause I would of never made it.!!!!...
I attended this ceremony as did my husband and left with tears still streaming from our eyes. Some very heartfelt words were said today and Sarah's memory will forever live on. It took strength for Sarah's sister, mother, father, grandmother, teacher and best friend to speak in front of a large emotional crowd. I pray for this family for all the heartache they have endored over this holiday season. I too witnessed Sheriff Lewis become emotional during his speech, I truly respect this man along with Davis Ruark and others. God bless this child, her family, friends and others who come to know little Sarah. May she rest in peace.
Those are some powerful pictures.
Absolutely a great send off to pay respect to little Sarah and to her family..Continue to pray for the family as they cont. to search for some peace and understanding...Great job by all who got up front and gave their own speech in his or her own words..I was very moved..
Also time to Pray for State Attorney Davis and his team and the Detective Team that they will have a slam dunk closure in this case so the suspect will never see the light of day again and will never harm another innocent child again!!!
From all Law Enforcement to the suspects that like to harm children.."WE DON'T STEP BACK..WE STEP UP!"...We will find you and take U down!!..
I Apologise to Sarah
I had heard that the Private Family Funeral was held on Thursday and for that, God Bless them. They needed their OWN closure! I woke up between 6 and 7 this morning, had my coffee and took a shower. I don't have a car so I was not able to make it to the Prayer Vigil last night because it was too far to walk at night. The Funeral today was within walking distance for me and I was ready to go. But with the temp at 25 and the winds blowing, as I started out walking, I had to turn back home. It was too much and the cars on the road came way to close for comfort for me because there are no side walks there. I am SO sorry Sarah! I wanted to be there so very much but please don't feel as if I have let you down. I was there in spirit and soul for you. You will always have a place in my heart for you.
Cindy Whetzel
I think Ruark may have a little problem when it comes time to prosecute this case. Obviously he will not be able to be involved at all since he spoke at the victims funeral. Any defense attorney would be happy to make an issue out of that to any jury. Probably not a wise move by Ruark's but that is not unusual for him.
I can only imagine how emotional it was for everyone that was there. This little girl will never be forgotten. Something good always comes out of something bad. Our community definitly came together as one over this tragic event. I have definitly learned to cherish the moments i have with my kids even more than i did before. Also, I will be more aware of who is around my children. Hopefully the laws will change for sex offenders and they will have more harsh consequences. I have so sorry for the entire family of Sarah!! Nobody knows that feeling unless it's happened.
Joe- thanks so much for posting pictures and updating everyone.
I was there and it was a very beautiful service...I was in awe over the creativity of the song that was made for sarah, and the other songs that were played and sang. Mike Lewis was heard loud and clear and like that bible verse he quoted. I will keep the family and friends in my thoughts and prayers...this is going to be a tough year for everyone that was close to sarah.
Davis Ruark was very careful with his words so as to avoid any conflict with the trial of this case. No reference to any Defendant at all, but just a tribute to Sarah and her legacy to the community. He will be there at trial for Sarah, for her family and for the community.Sheriff Lewis was remarkable in his comments. It was a beautiful service. Keep all of them in your prayers.
Please, Mr. Joe! Can you tell me how I may purchase a copy of the CD that was played for the Candle Light Vigil? Like I stated earlier, I was not able to be there but I would love to hear Sarah's Song!
Thank you very much,
Cindy W.
Cindy, we'll have that information on here very soon.
The service was very touching. I felt honored to be there, celebrating a beautiful little girls life. I am SO proud to be a citizen of Wicomico County! Sheriff Lewis did an outstanding job speaking. I respect him more and more everyday. Also Mr. Leatherbury from the MD State Police did a great job speaking at the service. Hearing these two fine men from our community speak from the Bible and share their faith was very emotional for me. But I am so thankful we have God-fearing men heading up our local law enforcement. May God Bless them and keep them safe!
I would like to take this time and apologize if I made any comments on this blog that were critical of the family. I cannot understand what any of you are going through. My only excuse was the pure emotion and gravity of the moment. I will tell you this, that as a believer in God, I know Sarah is doing just fine with our Father in Heaven.
I am sure we all have learned something about ourselves in the past several days, and we have Sarah to thank for that.
Joe, your loss for words was your gain. A straight reporting of the facts allowed the facts to speak loud and clear.
Rest your soul, Sarah, and may God comfort your family.
To anon 6:24 this will be the only defense the suspect predator has. That and the "i'm a child molester but not a killer" defense. we'll see how that goes over with a local jury!
I helped to search for Sarah on Christmas eve and I was at the memorial today. It was a beautiful memorial. I want the people who have read negative things about the family that from what I could see they looked like a normal loving family. I have never lost a loved one in this manner so I can't pretend to know how they feel. I don't know them at all but we need to blame the person who is responsible for this tragedy...TJ Leggs.
BackinBerlin, It takes very a big person to say that. Hats off to you.
Wonderful pictures Joe.
I wish that the memorial service had been video taped and aired on PAC 14 so that those of us in the community who could not attend the service would be able to see it.
I don't think that the trial will be near Salisbury. There will be a change in venue. Maybe a fund should be started to pay for transportation to the trial venue so this community can again show its support. If we want tougher laws, we have to publicize our outrage over lenient sentences for child sex offenders.Thank-you to everyone who is working so hard to achieve justice for Sarah and to protect our precious children. Be strong and Godspeed.
Everyone look out at Sarah's full moon. I do not think that I have seen a more beautiful one.
9:06 I completely agree with you. A good ending to a sad day, I went to the service and I think that everyone did an outstanding job. I was in tears the moment I walked in and saw her pictures on the screen. What a beautiful young girl she will always be a part of everyones life. Rest in peace sweet Haley Bug
I'm sure the public defender will request a change in venue, but why does the judge have to comply? This was a National Story with Leggs picture all over it. Where are they going to take it that they deem fair?
we need to blame the court system, for allowing such a ass to be out of jail. he has a record a mile long and should have not been out on the streets. The law needs to be changed and we need to see that it is done so these animals will be locked up forever.
RightCoast, he doesn't have to comply, but if he chooses not to, it would be opening the door wide for Leggs attorney to claim he didn't get a fair trial. You do raise a good question: Where WOULD be fair? Almost like trying to find a fair venue for Oswald's trial if he had lived.
I was unable to attend the ceremony today. My mother has a tie to Sarah and this whole ordeal has taken a toll on her and I as well. No one should ever have to go through this, not in a million years should anyone have to. May God bless Sarah's family and help them deal with this terrible and tragic loss.
thanks
Mike Lewis and Davis Ruark have demonstrated remarkable leadership at a time when the criminals have so many officials overwhelmed and seemingly on the run. Together they have sent a clear message, WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED, and WE ARE COMING FOR YOU! All our City, County, State, and Federal legislators need to get on Board, Lock Arms, Stand Together and make a public display of Commitment to their citizens that they can and will do the right thing! Change the laws to match the crime, those committing violent crimes of this nature have given up their own rights through their own actions. Its time to start holding people accountable for what they did. The person who perpetrated this act should receive the death penalty themselves! I should not have to vote a lifetime of costs associated with incarceration for someone who has deliberately taken the life of another! And, I will not feel bad about it for one moment!
Joe, Thank you for your continued efforts in keeping the public up to date with this story. I was at the memorial and also assisted in the search. I felt proud to be a part of a community that put aside their own lives for the the life of another, a stranger for most. When I look back on the whole situation, I don't know how I would have been able to celebrate Christmas without first exhausting all efforts to find her. We as a COMMUNITY pulled together to help in anyway that we could. My wish in light of this terrible tragedy is that WE STAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. We may feel that we don't need anyone else in our lives, but imagine how much easier things would be and how much further in life we would go if we had an entire community behind us!
Again, Joe, thank you for doing your part to help bring a community together, for everyone putting their opinions aside, and most importantly, for bringing a little girl home for Christmas. God Bless.
BackInBerlin,
I respect you for your comment.
I too attended the service for little Sarah. I did not know her personally but hurt and cried for her. I hope that maybe this will bring some closure for myself and let me begin to heal from this horrible tragedy.
Joe, I cannot thank you enough for the outstanding reporting you have done through this whole situation. keeping us informed and up to date without leaking information that could hurt the case and also you have been very fair to the family.
Mike Lewis and all law enforcement, EMS and firefighters and all of Wicomico County THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for this little angel.
I also had many bad feelings towards the family at the beginning but have realized that this little girl was loved by everyone and that yes some mistakes were made but who of us as parents or guardians have not made mistakes and to the ones of us judging this family be thankful it was not our mistake and our child. Please lets keep this family in our prayers and hope they may find some peace in the new year.
Ms. Ireland should prosecute this case. She's smart, organized and can think on her feet. There's no mumbling and fumbling when she's in court. If we want the best representing Sarah and the community, we should stop pushing for Davis Ruark. He has the title but not the ability.
Right Coast,
Where was all the national news coverage you spoke about? I saw a few short articles online, but nothing on any network or cable news shows. I was surprised Nancy Grace didn't mention her since she has a lot of child molestation/kidnapping type cases.
It is fitting that Davis Ruark spoke at the service. He represents our community in terms of legal prosecution of offenders. In court, though, we do need the sharpest attorney handling the case against Mr. Leggs, and that is not Mr. Ruark.
to 624 you must have some personal issues with mr.ruark, get over it unlike you he did the right thing and manned up.
To 9:08 and 10:40, you might want to check with the WBI and MSP Homicide Investigators as well as all of the other personnel who have worked with Davis before you post your comments. This is not a debate about lawyers: this is about Sarah. Please keep that in mind. Let's get back to Sarah.
The story was in The Baltimore Sun, and on Fox News out of D.C., both who came to Salisbury on Christmas Eve during the search and to the Christmas Eve candle light prayer vigil at Beaver Run Elementary. It was also printed in a newspaper in Los Angeles and the story was in the NY media. If you google her name, you can see all the sources that had the story.
My thanks to Rev Warren, Emmanuel Wesleyan, Holloway funeral Home,and others who donated their services. It was a beautiful service and Joe, you really captured it well with your zoom lens.
11:01
A comment had been made about whether Mr. Ruark could speak at Sarah's service and still be the prosecutor of Mr. Leggs. My saying that Sarah deserves our BEST prosecutor is therefore related to doing what we can to honor her memory.
Joe,
I too was unable to attend but would love to have heard Mike's and others' words. Do you know if any of the service is available, even if only written? I would love to read what was said. Thanks.
The news of Sarah's disappearance and death was also reported around the world. Google her name and see the foreign countries that picked it up.
To 9:54
I live in Florida and even our local news was covering the case. I also thought that the Nancy Grace show would have coverage but as I watched her show I believe she was off the week between Christmas and New Years. The shows that aired during this time were reruns.
I know Sarah is safe and in God's loving arms. I pray now that her parents can do want it takes to step up and be parents for her siblings.
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