On Halloween, remember Vincent Woodson and a vigil
Halloween, not spelled holloween, is the evening of October 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day, celebrated by dressing up in costumes and –playing pranks. This is from the phrase All hallows Even "All Saints’ Eve. Well, since I was a kid no one ever explained it to me that way. I did know that hallow is to make holy or sacred. The question now is, do you or I know anyone who was buried in hallowed ground?
As of late, the gun homicides and all, many a love one is buried or are about to be buried in what is considered made holy ground. Family and friends of Vincent Woodson are attempting to use Halloween night as a positive anniversary. Remember the sudden death of Woodson. Who better than to take the lead in this but Woodson’s own mother, Fay Dawson? Fay Is the Founder of the Woodson Foundation. And Fay is holding a Vigil, her first in the West Philly area across the state of PA, on the very evening of this coming Tuesday, Oct. 31, ’06. In Philly, where most of the gun violence homicides are young Black American males, too one of them was Fay Dawson’s son, Vincent Michael Woodson. Fay’s son was shot and killed, in the 300 block of East Price Street. "Vincent was not involved in a melee that happened during the early morning hours of January 9, 2005 when a group of men came to a party and started a fight," says Fay. Woodson was only 23 years old.
He was the dad of two children. The alleged perpetrator was caught and is currently being tried. But as for Fay, this year the longing to see many kids survive the street culture has been her passion and care. Woodson’s care is so deep within that she wants to do her best not to have a child taken away on a fun night like Halloween, if she can have any say about it. And have her say, she will. If any adventure out to meet Woodson they will get to know more about what proactive duty she has been involved with to affect illegal gun activity. For quite awhile, Woodson has worked devoutly with the grievance and loss management group Mothers United Through Tragedy (MUTT). That work has paid off. Becoming stronger, Fay will lead the way to direct praying for the city’s fight to stop the violence and all the families touched by violence. On a evening to reflect about what has become sacred to all lovers of positive energy, hanging out with Fay just might be like being touched by an angel.
"When we gathered for Vincent’s funeral; we said that love is stronger than death," she said. Fay has created her forum to stretch her work as essential services for families and the community. Woodson encourages kids at After-school programs and voluntarily participates within the Phila. School District ‘s kids safety in action. The Woodson Foundation’s Community Prayer citywide Vigil is an outdoor event scheduled for Tuesday, Oct., 31, 2006, 5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. at 4304 Lancaster Ave. It will also be open mic for speakers. For more info contact Fay Dawson: (215) 200-8453 or (215) 939-7462.
