Once again I am writing a post about another bright, shining star of North Carolina that has gone out. Valerie Hamilton was brutally murdered last week in Charlotte, NC. A senseless, callous act, a beautiful life lost, a family and community left in the shambles of unrelenting grief.Valerie was at a local watering hole to help a friend celebrate her 21st birthday. The friend said Valerie was training for a triathlon, had very little to drink, never did drugs and was NOT a “party animal.” By all accounts she was a bright, loving, effervescent spirit.
On the night of Sept 14th Valerie would make a judgment call that would unfortunately prove fatal; she met a man and left the bar with him, under what pretense no one knows. It would later be learned, too late for Valerie, that the man was a convicted sex offender. Valerie was found dead three days later.
As with other posts like this one that I have done in the past, I don’t want to dwell on Valerie’s death or name the gruesome monster accused but rather pay tribute to this beautiful young woman’s short but fruitful life.
Valerie was 23 years old and living on her own. She had a dog she loved and was athletic. Her ambition was to follow her mother into the teaching profession and she was a special education intern. Valerie was on her high school swim team and turned that experience into a position teaching children to swim at the Little Otter Swim School.
Valerie was an ambitious, generous and loving young woman, happily moving forward on her life path. Her father, the Concord NC Chief of Police called her, “the perfect daughter.” Her friends describe her as having an infectious personality and a beautiful person.
I have no pithy commentary, no analysis to present, just a story that brings me sadness and anguish over the callous brutality of this life. How I wish it was not so.
Valerie’s ringtone was the song, “Time After Time.”
“If you’re lost you can look and you will find me, time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I’ll be waiting, time after time…”
Valerie Grace Hamilton, July 3, 1987 – Sept 15, 2010
Life is sad, there is no divine plan, no hidden purpose or other solace to invoke and the universe is defined by random events.
ReplyDeleteHere's yet another reminder, but let's not use it the way such things are used and let's not look to this for support for more pogroms or crusades or more death or more bible classes or more persecution of our pet victims.
Someone surely will.
That was a lovely tribute to a lovely person. Thank you for sharing. Sadness shared may be easier to bear.
ReplyDeleteSo very sad. I feel profoundly sorry for her parents.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to read this. It is unimaginably tragic. What a waste of a wonderful young person's life.
ReplyDeleteI think I would rather live in a cave these days.
The word has to go out loud and clear: Don't accept candy, a ride, a drink, or anything else from a stranger.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't let your friends do it, either. Raise hell, risk a friendship...and just maybe save a life.
Here's to the memory of Valerie and other crime victims. May her murderer face justice.
ReplyDeleteShe was so loving and filled our lives with such joy. Ruby her dog had been abused and she was training her to be a rescue dog. Valerie always made us smile and laugh. Her father, mother and sister loved her so much. We miss her everday. We got her a bicycle for her 23 birthday.
ReplyDeleteShe wanted to be a mom.