Funeral caps week of grief in Morgan County
MCCONNELSVILLE — The sun cast long shadows on the sidewalks outside Cornerstone South Family Life Church on Fifth Street in McConnelsville. The Morgan High School marching band was playing scales behind the facility, warming up for one last tribute to friend and fellow band member Donnie Perry.
Donnie, 15, was one of two Morgan High School students killed in a two-vehicle crash Oct. 2 on Ohio 37. He was laid to rest Thursday; Hannah Lewis, the other student killed in the crash, also was remembered this week.
Donnie was a sophomore at Morgan High School and a percussionist in the band.
Weston Starling, Donnie's friend and the driver of the vehicle carrying him, Hannah and Katie Stevens, loosely clutched a microphone at the altar.
"Donnie Perry was my brother. He was my best friend. He was my partner in crime," Weston said. "Now, there's not going to be anything like that. I just want Donnie to know that I love him."
Chuck Kuhn, youth pastor at Cornerstone South, recounted his memories of Donnie in Thursday's sermon. He said friends and family members will remember Donnie as a happy person who enjoyed playing in the band more than anything.
"(Donnie) has that big ol' grin because he's looking down at everybody smiling," Kuhn said.
Kuhn recalled Donnie coming to youth group events, tapping his feet and quietly clapping his hands against his legs, constantly creating beats even when his drums were far out of hand.
"Donnie always had music in his heart," Kuhn said.
The band filed into the sanctuary and crammed into the corner near the altar to start the service, many with rosy cheeks from wiping away tears. The Morgan percussionists breathed long, deep breaths and dabbed the tears from their eyes between parts. Many kept their heads bowed as they played, maintaining just enough composure to play with precision.
The crowd of mourners at Donnie's funeral was dotted with blue Morgan Raider gear and laced with green ribbons, green ties and green shirts.
Midnight blue, white and green have been the colors of the week in Morgan County. The first two are colors familiar to Morgan Raiders, but green has been adopted by the community as a common symbol of hope. Students, staff and community members have worn green — which represents new beginnings in Chinese feng shui — throughout much of the week.
Area high schools have committed to wearing green at Friday night football games to honor Donnie, Hannah, Weston and Katie, who remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition as of Monday.
A long tunnel of students, friends and family members stood in the sun outside the church as the procession prepared to leave. They held hands, rubbed backs, hugged and cried.
Donnie's funeral capped a week of building grief, leaving local residents to wonder when that sadness may begin to wane. Through it all, however, the community has grown closer together while they wait for a release.
"That's unity," Kuhn said, pointing to the marching band. "That's Morgan County. ... If you look right now, you can't find a stronger group of people."
bparks2@gannett.com
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Twitter: @Bradley_W_Parks