Thirty-nine community members who died while experiencing homelessness remembered during vigil

Thirty-nine community members who were experiencing homelessness in Monroe County when they died were remembered during an annual vigil Tuesday night at the Monroe County Courthouse.

Forrest Gilmore of the Shalom Center said it’s the most who have died in one year. Gilmore said, for years few died on the streets in the city and county, but the number has gone back up recently.

“We started seeing people dying outside,” said Gilmore. Gilmore said the causes of death were various, but substance abuse disorders were common factors in many of the deaths.

A list was read during the ceremony:

Michael Adams

Julia Aylward

Jared Bluck

Crystal Chambers

Madonna Conti

David Cottongain

Amber Cowden

Kody Dean

Paul East

Mark Estanislau

Shawna Fox Douglas

Bessie Grubb

Patrick Hardy “Cartoon”

Shandi Hawkins

Thomas Hood

Josh Hunter

Robert King

Sierra Launer

John Mullins

Heather Louise Nanny-Cole

Leroy Neal

Susan Kay Newton

Joey Oakley

Mallory Paige

Durrell Patton

Levi Price

Julie Richardson

Michael Sheeks

Crystal Sims

Joe Singleton

Donna Marie Stevens

Thomas Taylor

Courtney Thorpe

Rebecca Webster

Roy Wells

Joe Wilbur

Marque Wright

The Bloomington Community also lost these advocates who helped those experiencing homelessness:

Mark Emerson

Bob Muldoon

Shirley St. John

Sarah Wasserman