One by one, at the least 20 pupils stepped towards podium Thursday at Stephen Foster Elementary School in Gainesville to not forget Leslie “Lisa” Williams, their librarian and media teacher.
One boy unfolded a piece of paper using a floral design and massive handwriting in it, and placed it on top of the podium before sharing, just like all the other speakers, about Williams’ kindness and willingness that will help.
“She always helped my girlfriends so i do our presentations,” he said. “She was the most beneficial teacher I had, also it was fun learning with her. We loved her much more than anyone.”
Another pupil told of actually liking to learn in my ballet shoes due to Williams, who also did the morning news announcements at Stephen Foster.
“But since she’s gone,” the girl said, “I still like reading, and that i love her.”
The pupils were among greater than 200 individuals who attended a memorial for Williams, 57. She and her daughter Paige, 15, a student at Buchholz Highschool, were found dead with their home on Nov. 15 from stabbing wounds.
Paul Williams, 61, was charged Saturday with two counts all of first-degree murder, obstruction and evidence tampering inside the deaths of his wife and daughter.
The pupils, their parents and faculty held candles because they gathered in a very school courtyard.
“In Loving Memory of Lisa Williams” were what that come with sign holding an image of Williams on an easel.
“This candle burns for Lisa Williams. Forever contained in our hearts,” read a framed sign positioned on a table next to the easel. Another candle and sign shared exactly the same for her daughter. Two tissue boxes were beside the signs, each opened and constantly pulled from.
Samantha Latham, a third-grade teacher, opened the memorial.
“Something life-transforming has happened to us,” Latham said. “Ordinary words sometimes fail us. Yet, it can be impossible to live mute. For a lot of people, Mrs. Williams was obviously a smiling face when you walked by her.”
After a second of silence, two brunette girls stepped on the mic to represent Williams’ family. She had relocated from Port St. Lucie to Gainesville due to her job last fall.
“This is my aunt Lisa,” said Callista Lamb, 17, mentioning the photo in close proximity. “And everybody was a small amount too distraught ahead tonight.” Choking back tears, Callista continued: “Seeing everyone here, acknowledging that she was really loved C she was an awesome woman. I got in touch with to her. As well as memories We have with her, I’ll forever store.”
After the niece spoke, the microphone was offered to anyone who desired to speak. Then most of the pupils lined up to express their desire for Williams.
“Mrs. Williams stated that her dream is always that everyone else’s dreams belly true,” one girl said.
Lyrics from Hillsong United’s “There is No One Like You” filled the courtyard – first by two people, then by everybody.
“There is not any one as you,” they sang. “No one else can touch me as you.”
