Shelly Linderman (right) and Matlei Phares of Wiregrass Angel House hang up a memorial quilt at Wiregrass Angel House on Monday. The quilt is a collection of individual personalized squares that represent loved ones that have been murdered.
JAY HARE/DOTHAN EAGLE
With more than 400 violent deaths categorized as murder or manslaughter in 2016, Alabama had the nation’s third highest homicide rate that year, according to statistics released by the FBI.
Dothan is home to one organization whose goal is to serve as an advocate for victims of homicide — the Wiregrass Angel House.
The Angel House advocates for victims’ rights and services for victims of violent crimes, providing direct services to the victims’ family.
“There are too many homicide victims,” said Angel House Director Shelly Linderman. “The sad thing is not only are there too many victims, there are too many people that just don’t know how many people are victims of a homicide. This is something that can’t be swept under a mat. These are family members and friends that have lost loved ones way too soon.”
That’s why the Angel House is dedicated to educating the community on its upcoming event, the 2018 National Day of Remembrance of Homicide Victims. The event is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
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DANNY TINDELL / DOTHAN EAGLE Tony Luker with Wiregrass Angel House poses with the organization’s new therapy dogs Luke and Cole on Monday.
Posted on Oct 10, 2016
by Matt Elofson
Crime and courts reporterCole, a black Labrador retriever therapy dog, recently helped a teenage girl relax and open up during therapy at Wiregrass Angel House.
The teenage girl witnessed a violent crime and has been going through some therapy sessions with Wiregrass Angel House, a local nonprofit agency that helps victims of violent crime.
“It made her open up more,” said Shelly Linderman, the director of Wiregrass Angel House. “When she first started (therapy with Cole) she was totally against it. Then she was asking for him all the time in therapy. He’s made her feel more comfortable.”
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Article courtesy of The Dothan Eagle
DANNY TINDELL / DOTHAN EAGLE People release balloons at Wiregrass Angel House in Dothan, in honor of area homicide victims.
Posted on Sep 25, 2016
by Matt Elofson
Crime and courts reporter
Kim Fields released a balloon Sunday afternoon and watched as it floated up toward the sky delivering a message to her younger brother, who was shot to death over two years ago in Dothan.
Fields joined over 50 people who attended the National Day of Remembrance ceremony for victims of homicide Sunday at the Wiregrass Angel House in Dothan.
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Article courtesy of The Dothan Eagle
https://www.wiregrassangelhouse.org/about-us/news/archived#sigProId31ade7c9b3
Baby Miss Angel Shaylah Chavers
Tiny Miss Angel Lillian Moye
Future Little Miss Angel Kenzie Nichols
Little Miss Angel Paityn Flowers
Petite Miss Angel Lotus Pierce
Junior Miss Angel Ashley Grantham
Teen Miss Angel Rebekah Wright
Miss Angel Katie Ard
Ms Angel Jessica Osborn
Miss Angel Cover Girl Callie Thompson
Miss Angel Ambassador Alexia Flowers
Miss Angel Princess Annalee Acker
Miss Angel Queen of Queens Alexis Holub
The 2016 Angel House Charity Golf Classic was held on April 7th at the Highland Oaks Golf Course. The tournament was a huge success! We had over 100 golfers participate in this event!
https://www.wiregrassangelhouse.org/about-us/news/archived#sigProId1b1a1bf6d6
HONORING THOSE WHO BRING HONOR TO VICTIMS IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
Angel House and V.O.C.A.L. are recognizing individuals that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services. As the discipline of crime victim services has grown over the years, so has the number of remarkable individuals that significantly contribute to its success. Today, the field includes countless people who through vision, action and leadership have improved the lives of victims in the aftermath of crime. We invite you to submit a nomination for one or more of five awards. In making your nominations, we encourage you to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the crime victims’ field and/or to crime victims. Recipients of the awards will be honored at the Governor’s Conference on April 23rd, as part of the national commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which is scheduled for April 19-25, 2015.
This year’s Miss Angel pageant was held February 9th at the Dothan Opera House. This was a day of interviews, casual wear competition and evening gown competition to find our next representatives. We crowned eleven new queens who will surely have their work cut out for them. In addition to riding in the National Peanut Festival Parade, these girls will spend their year promoting the Wiregrass Angel House at various community and charity events.
National Crime Victims Rights Week was commemorated during April 6th-12th. A Southeast vigil was held on Sunday, April 6th.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Dothan Civic Center and Wiregrass Museum of Art
3:00 pm and 8:00 pm
The Dothan Police Department will join forces with other local law enforcement agencies, Dothan Fire Department, United States Military, Child Advocacy Center, Target, Dothan Leisure Services, and various other organizations to promote crime and drug prevention throughout the City of Dothan/Houston County for the 30th Annual National Night Out on Saturday, August 3, 2013.
Wiregrass Angel House has started purchasing our memory pavers. These pavers will be placed under a newly constructed arbor. Each paver will be in memory or in honor of a loved one. This is not a fundraiser; we are only charging the price of the paver - $30. If you are interested in having a paver in memory of your loved one, please contact the Wiregrass Angel House office. Click the PDF icon for our Memorial Paver form.
August 4th was National Night Out in Dothan for all the Wiregrass area to enjoy. There were many booths and give always, as well, as S.W.A.T. and K-9 demonstrations. There was something for everyone to see and participate in. The afternoon shower cooled things off to make it a more enjoyable event as participants ventured outside to see the fire trucks and such. Captain Jay, once again, did an outstanding job bringing it all together.
Wiregrass Angel House dedicated their new garden on May 17, 2012 to their late counselor, Joyce Nottingham Miller. Joyce was a long time victim's advocate and friend to those families who had suffered the loss of a loved one. This was a project that Joyce had long to build for families in the Wiregrass area. She always felt victims were always forgotten and she wanted to make a place that was tranquil and peaceful they could be proud of.
The garden was built for families of homicide victims to come and "Remember, Reflect, and Rebuild". As the stone at the top of the waterfall so eloquently states. The gate to the garden is open 24 hours a day for families to enjoy at their leisure. The watefall and swings are just the first phase of the garden. We are currently raising funds for an arbor and memory bricks for loved ones names to be inscribed on.
Please take a moment and see...
The Annual Memorial Service for the victims of Samson will be held at Samson Baptist Church, 8 West Main St., Samson, AL 36477.
Saturday, March 10th - Beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Charles Myers will be the featured speaker. A dinner by the Samson High School Seniors will be served afterward in the fellowship hall.
For more information please contact Shelly Linderman at 334-702-7010.
Law Enforcement, District Judges, District Attorney’s Office, Victim Service Officers, Victim Advocates, and other interested parties will be present.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Joyce Miller, our counselor, passed away passed away Monday, November 7, 2011 at her residence. Funeral services will be held 2 pm Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Sunset Funeral Home with Rev. John D Reese officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1-2 pm Thursday at the funeral home. Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 is in charge of the arrangements. www.SunsetMemorialPark.com.
Sunday, September 25, 2011, is the National Day of Remembrance (DOR) for Murder Victims - a day to honor and memorialize the lives of our loved ones taken by murder/homicide.
The National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims pays tribute to the thousands of Americans slain each year through acts of violence and the millions affected by their deaths. Since the year 2000, more than 125,000 Americans have been murdered, leaving behind an untold number of families, neighbors, and communities to cope with their losses.
No matter how much time goes by after a murder, when we pause as individuals and, indeed, as a nation to remember—we remind all those who are left behind that we have not forgotten your loved one.
As we approach the time to remember, reflect, and rebuild our lives. Let us remember our loved one as they were. If you haven’t been affected by a loved one lost to a homicide, take a moment and watch the memorial of our victims and say a prayer for their families.
Our 4th Annual Golf Tournament was held April 7, 2011 at the Highland Oaks golf course. It was a gorgeous day, with 92 golfers in attendance. Lunch was served at 11 and the shot gun start began at noon.
The players started returning around 4:15 and the winners were announced around 5:30. We would like to send a special thank you to all of the wonderful sponsors of our golf tournament. Without you it would not have been such a success.
A great big thank you to Gary Maxwell, Retired Chief Assistant District Attorney, for all of his hard work putting this tournament together and all that it entails! We also thank the DA’s office and their staff for their collection of sponsorships in the amount of $26,650. Angel House received donations of $11,200, bringing our grand total to $37,850.00.