From RCNH Archives

JACKSON – In an emotional event where more than a few tears were shed inside a warm and dry Northampton County Cultural & Wellness Center, family and friends of six individuals who went missing years ago gathered for a prayer vigil to remember those currently unaccounted for as well as soliciting additional law enforcement manpower from the federal level to assist local lawmen in helping to find answers in each of these cases.

Family member or friends of Shawn Alston (Northampton County – missing since Oct. 8, 2012), Robert Moore (Northampton – 1996), Shonda Stansbury (Halifax County – Dec. 14, 2006), Amy Bridgeman (Halifax – June 24, 2013), Jalessa Reynolds (Halifax – Feb. 22, 2010), and Daniel Moses (Northampton – June 16, 2011) took turns at the podium, each seeking the same thing – information that will lead to the discovery of their loved one.

“They took my mother’s son; they took my brother. Since June 16, 2011 our lives haven’t been the same. We wake up every morning and ask where’s our brother. We ask the same thing when we lay our heads down at night. We need to know who took our brother,” said Shelia Moses, event organizer and the sister of Daniel Moses.

“We need help; we need someone to step in and form a committee devoted to working on these cases,” said Lola Robinson, mother of Shawn Alston. “I need to find my son. I need those involved to open up and talk about this. If you can’t talk to the police, then talk to a family member, a church member, or someone and tell them what you know.”

Speaking on behalf of his father, Robert Moore Jr. said he was thankful for the local NAACP chapters and local law enforcement coming together as one in an effort to continue to shine a light on these cases.

“I don’t feel alone; we don’t feel alone, but it’s still tough not knowing what happened to my father and the others still missing,” he stated. “If everyone will push, we can move forward.”

Jackie Stansbury fought back the tears as she remembered the life of her missing sister.

“No one should have to endure this type of pain every day,” Stansbury said. “There’s somebody out there that knows where my sister is and can lead us to her. She is the mother of four children….they deserve an answer; they need to know where their mom is at. Please keep all these cases alive. They all deserve to be found and be brought home. Don’t give up…keep the faith.”

Kim Gibson, a family friend of the Bridgemans, said Amy called her husband on the day of her disappearance, saying she would be home “in a little while.”

“That little while never came,” Gibson remarked. “She didn’t disappear into thin air….someone knows where she is. Amy was a very kindhearted person. If she had 20 dollars and you needed it, she’d give it to you.

Michael Hines spoke on behalf of the Reynolds family.

“It’s been five years; she (Jalessa) was only 18 years old; she had left home to go to the library and we haven’t seen or heard from her since,” Hines noted. “It’s painful that it’s been this long and we still have no answers; we have no clues. I appreciate ya’ll remembering her in this way. This family needs closure.”

Local leaders of the NAACP – Tony Burnette of Northampton County and David Harvey of Halifax County – each promised their continued support.

“Somebody in the communities of Northampton and Halifax counties knows something about these cases,” Burnette continued. “We’re hoping the words said today will touch somebody’s heart and they will come forward with information that will help lead to closure for these families. We’re not going to sit by while another tragedy or injustice occurs. We’re going to stand up and we’re going to take action,” Burnette said.

“This absolutely makes no sense to me, especially in this time of the technology we have, that these families do not have closure after all these years,” Harvey noted. “We stand together with Brother Burnette and Northampton County as one to fight and move forward. This has nothing to do with color; this has to do with human life.”

Support was also promised from the top law enforcement officers in both counties – Halifax Sheriff Wes Tripp and Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith.