Seeing three caskets in a sanctuary at the same time takes an emotional toll — even on a stranger. The weight was compounded by the tragic circumstances that led to the joint homegoing for a mother, a daughter and a son/grandson.
“This has been a big pill to swallow,” said Patricia May’s sister, Rhonda Little. “But God has given me a lot of water. He has wrapped his arms around me as I continue to try to deal with this.”
Photo by Lawrence Bryant | St. Louis American
Three life reflections in a single obituary. And a community in mourning. Cherie May, Devin May and Patricia May of East St. Louis were among the lives stolen in an orchestrated series of murders by two teens. The tragedy left five dead — including Shania Thompson and Quentin L. Thompson — and two more family members critically injured. The deaths and injuries shocked the region and drew national attention.
As the May family was remembered Saturday afternoon (July 25) at House of Prayer to All Nations Church in East St. Louis — their family church — the focus remained on the impact of their lives rather than how those lives ended.
They weren’t “three of the five victims.” They were loving family members who left a lasting imprint.
Pat — as she was known — had friends playfully proclaiming themselves “the original best friend” as they offered condolences and shared memories. She often led 5 a.m. prayer calls, according to Evangelist Linda Galloway. Her daughter Cherie was described as “as sweet as she could be,” welcoming others easily into her circle.
“If you met her, you loved her,” one friend said as she addressed the family. “I ask that you not remember her as a victim, but as a loving person, a mother and a sister to me.”
Six days before he was killed, Cherie’s son Devin had proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Chelsey Gatlin — on her birthday. The couple shared a two-year-old daughter who will grow up knowing her father through the memories of others. When the family was invited to the podium, a young cousin spoke about how Devin beamed when talking about being a father.
“Everybody is talking about the tragedy, but we wanted to take a bit of time to talk about all the blessings that this family gave,” said Elder Anthony Pettiford, senior pastor of House of Prayer to All Nations Church, during his eulogy.
In her remarks, Galloway read from a letter published in the East St. Louis Monitor from Mayor Charles Powell III.
“It was titled ‘A Message of Hope and Healing,’” Galloway said. “Part of it read, ‘To the young people of our city, I want you to know this: Your life matters. Your futures matter. You matter more than you could ever know.’”
Galloway — Patricia May’s neighbor and close friend — staked her claim as one of Patricia’s best friends.
Sister Rhonda Little settled it.
“I am her original best friend,” Little said with a laugh. “We grew up in the same bedroom and wore each other’s clothes.”
As people lined up to share reflections, a recurring question surfaced repeatedly.
“How could something like this happen to this type of family?”
A prayer warrior. A loving father. A devoted mother and daughter.
Photo by Lawrence Bryant | St. Louis American
“When they first called me and told me, I didn’t believe it,” said Sharon Clark. “It went from disbelief to hurt. Then it went from hurt to hate — and from hate to anger.”
She said she found comfort in her faith — Psalm 121:1 in particular.
She spoke it aloud as she left the podium: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
Pettiford used the book of Job as the scriptural foundation for his message, urging mourners not to dwell on the “why” of what happened.
“Grieve, yes. There is a time to grieve,” Pettiford said. “But in the midst of all, worship and bless the Lord. Know that the Lord is there — in the midst of trouble, in the midst of trials and in the midst of tragedy — and he gave us a power in the name of Jesus.”