by Tom Chillemi –
Deputy sheriff Melinda Hart, the school resource officer at St. Clare Walker Middle School for several years, died on December 29. During a candlelight vigil on December 31, she was remembered as a caring and loving person who touched the lives of many. Well respected in the community, she was involved in several youth programs.
“Passionate, energetic and a driven leader,” were some of the words that Sarah Kimble used to describe Melinda during the vigil on the athletic field at St. Clare Walker Middle School. “She was a beautiful woman, always smiling with a positive word.
“Melinda loved all the children and fought tirelessly for their safety education and well-being, and she did so many positive things for our community that she will never be forgotten,” said Kimble.
“Will we ever know truly all that she did loudly and quietly for all of us?” asked Kimble. “Let us always remember the way Melinda lived, open and full of heart with love and acceptance of others. I have no doubt that Melinda knows that she is loved by all and I have no doubt that her spirit is with us tonight and as days move forward.”
Kimble said there are many ways to honor Melinda Hart and she shared some of them. “Be a good friend, listen and talk, and check on each other. Give hugs and smiles freely, laugh, and remember all of the good times, memories and everything that Melinda has taught us.”
Kimble said The Melinda J. Hart Memorial Fund has been established at C&F Bank at Cooks Corner to assist with burial and family living expenses.
“An angel”
“Tonight we celebrate love,” said vigil speaker Pastor Ileana Rosario of Lower United Methodist Church. “Tonight we have come together for one reason—to honor and celebrate the life of a friend, a sister, an angel that was sent to this community to bless us . . . Melinda Hart.
“It’s amazing how she gave her time to give us hugs and smiles,” continued Pastor Rosario. “From the first time we met, we were friends, already. She loved this community and she loves each one of you and your children. The time she gave, the thoughts, the words of love we’ll never forget.
“Melinda was an example of how to reach out beyond all of our differences and embrace each other and love one another for simply who we are on the inside.”
—St. Clare Walker teacher Lamar Gresham
“This community was given an angel. We should give thanks for her life among us, for the way she blessed us, for the way she encouraged us, for the way she motivated us to be better, to shine in everything that we do, to share our love every single day, to care for each other,” said Pastor Rosario. “You might not know the names of all the people here, but each one of us loved Melinda. We are embraced by her love for us to love one another.
“Together we can encounter the new year. Together we can move forward in hope that she blessed us with the love she gave so freely to us. Love never ends. And the legacy that she gave us will not stop. Together we can continue being a community blessed, as we reach out to each other in love, as we share this love, as we shine for God’s glory,” said Pastor Rosario.
“Give hugs, as many as you can. If there are people you don’t know, get to know them, hug them, bless them and follow the legacy that we learned from Melinda to encounter every person like they were already our friends. Let us follow her example and love fully,” said Pastor Rosario.
“A big family”
One of Hart’s sons, Josh Helmich, thanked all who came out during “this desperate, difficult time and for supporting not just me but my family.”
Helmich said this community is “one big family and that means so much because this has been really, really hard. Thank you for coming out and for your support in making this transition easier.”
The hyphen
David Taylor shared a story of the “hyphen,” a punctuation mark that appears on gravestones between the date of birth and death. The little hyphen “represents life,” said Taylor, and Melinda “packed an incredible amount of love, concern, caring and friendship into that hyphen that will be on her stone. And I know that Melinda would want you to pack as much into your hyphen as she did in hers . . . make her proud.”
Melinda’s obituary can be found here.
An example
Lamar Gresham, a teacher at St. Clare Walker Middle School, said Hart was the “loudest fan of the gym . . . shoes that will never be filled. It’s going to be very different around the halls of St. Clare Walker not seeing that infectious smile, not hearing that loud laugh, not seeing her handing out goodies to the kids.”
School officials made special arrangements for grief counseling when school reopened January 6 after the holidays.
“We’re going to miss her,” Gresham said. “This community has definitely lost a bright light, but I believe that light continues to shine in each and every one of us as we continue to serve our community the same way she did, as we continue to love each other the same way she did.”
“Melinda was an example of how to reach out beyond all of our differences and embrace each other and love one another for simply who we are on the inside,” he said.
“Middlesex you have done well coming out tonight to share with this family,” said Gresham. “We are praying with you and I’m hoping that the peace of God will replace the grief and sadness, and that one day you will be able to look back on all your memories and continue to smile.”
“A dreamer”
Lauren Radabaugh said Melinda “was always a dreamer . . . she would come to me with these ideas of what we could do for Middlesex children. Nothing was too small and nothing was too big for her.”
Radabaugh said Melinda did kind things secretly for people. “There were things that she did that were big for the children as well.
“There are a lot of wonderful ways we can honor her going forward but we need to focus on the small ways, and being there for each other,” continued Radabaugh. “I never met a person who loved laughing and having fun more than Melinda. Go forth in her honor doing great things.”
The formal part of the ceremony closed with a chorus of “Amazing Grace.” Those attending were slow to leave, and lingered under a clear sky with a setting moon.
The sign at the school entrance had a photo of Melinda Hart. Under it were the words: “Forever in our hearts.”
