Services for Pregnant Mother & Daughter Focus on a Community Grieving

The community came together at Norton Ave Baptist Church in Bristol Township to say goodbye one last time in the real world to Ebony Talley, R’mani Rankins and unborn Isaiah as they made their  passage to a  new ethereal home.

It was more a day for words spoken by the spiritual leaders of a community in mourning then it was for words by reporters writing words on a page.

Tears rolled down the faces of people through the aisles and pews. The service then reversed into “light-hearted” remembrances of the mother, daughter and unborn child killed on November 25.

From soulful hymns to the tearful moments when young R’mani was remembered as the smiling and dancing little girl, the service clearly moved those who showed up.

James Parrish, godfather to R’mani, recalled how the little girl always called him Pop-pop.

The hundreds that gathered came from every cross-section of life for the services that started at 9  a.m. and ended close to 1 p.m, family friend Constance Moore said later Saturday afternoon.

“This has affected people from every corner of life,” Moore said.

The community encouraged  to heal and cathect their grief in the house of the Lord where the pain needed to stay  because “the lives lost need not have died in vain,” said Reverend James G. Evans III.

All three were buried at Bristol Cemetery after the services.

The church services were under the watchful eye of Pennsylvania State Police and Bristol Township police. Lt. Terry Hughes said the police presence was ensure there were no problems due to the large gathering of people.