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‘It doesn’t feel like 22 years,’ says friend of murder victim as killer’s execution nears

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2 years ago

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‘It doesn’t feel like 22 years,’ says friend of murder victim as killer’s execution nears

by Mina Corpuz, Mississippi Today
December 12, 2022

Lisa Darracott recently found her 2000 yearbook from her junior year at Itawamba Agricultural High School with an entire page reserved for her best friend since kindergarten, Leesa Gray.

In half a page of writing, Gray thanked Darracott for being a great friend who supported her and made her laugh, but Gray didn’t get the opportunity to finish the message.

The final bell let students out for the summer. Weeks later in June, members of the Dorsey community and students learned that Gray was murdered.

“For those of us who were around when it happened, it still feels like it just happened,” Darracott said. “It doesn’t feel like 22 years.”

On Wednesday, Darracott will travel to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman for the lethal injection execution of Gray’s killer, Thomas Loden Jr., who received the death sentence or Gray’s rape and murder.

Family members, including Gray’s mother Wanda Farris, are expected to witness the execution.

Darracott remembers Gray as a friendly person with a nice smile who liked to do makeup and style hair. They could look at each other and know what was on each other’s mind, she said.

Gray finished the school year as junior class vice president and had just left work at her family’s eatery, Comer’s Restaurant, when Loden abducted her.

She was a member of groups that reflected many interests: chorus, juniorettes and Future Educators of America, according to her obituary. Gray explored a future in business as a member of Future Business Leaders of America and secretary of DECA, the competitive student entrepreneurship organization.

“She was a sweet Christian girl, loved the Lord, had a lot of life ahead of her,” Wanda Farris told the Associated Press last month.

Gray left behind her mother, stepfather Mike Farris, father John Gray and younger brother James Farris. Mississippi Today reached out to several family members, but they were not available for comment.

The Dorsey community was left reeling after Gray’s death on June 23, 2000, the Daily Journal reported at the time. A day earlier when she went missing after work, her family, community and law enforcement launched a search before finding her body in Loden’s van.

Loden, a gunnery sergeant and Marine Corps recruiter, was arrested and pleaded guilty.

Over 1,000 people attended Gray’s funeral services at her high school.

The senior class of 2001 and senior youth group at her church, Bethel Baptist Church, were honorary pallbearers.

Finishing high school without her was hard, Darracott said, and Gray’s absence was felt at milestones like prom and graduation.

When Darracott married, she pictured Gray there as her maid of honor. If Gray were still alive, Darracott wondered what kind of career her friend would have, the person she would marry and whether she would have children of her own.

“There was always a hole where she should have been,” Darracott said.

Lees Gray’s handwriting and words are etched into a bracelet her friend Lisa Darracott had made. Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Darracott

Over the years, Gray’s family, friends and community members have kept up with developments in Loden’s case, which has included state and federal appeals over the last two decades.

Last month, Farris and several friends traveled to Jackson for a hearing before U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate, who is hearing a case challenging Mississippi’s use of a three-drug mix for lethal injection.

Loden joined that case and the judge considered whether to grant Loden a stay until it was decided, but Wingate ultimately denied that request, a week before the scheduled execution.

“I forgave him a long time ago,” Farris told the news outlets last week. “You need to forgive to move on. You can’t keep all that bitterness inside.”

A prayer vigil is scheduled for Wednesday, 5 p.m. the day of the execution, at Bethel Baptist Church in Fulton. People are asked to wear purple to show support for Gray.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Mississippi Today

UMMC holds free cancer screenings

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24 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

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mississippitoday.org – @EricJShelton – 2025-04-30 12:00:00

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

  • Resident physician Claire Babin, right, performs an oral cancer screening on Ella Holmes during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Physicians prepare for oral, head and neck cancer screenings during a free screening event at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, screens Diane Carter for oral cancer as medical students Mason Nodurft, left, and Eva Kiparizoska observe during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Educational giveaways advocating against smoking are available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Sharon Terry, senior tobacco treatment specialist, waits for patients during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Skylar Robinson, medical office assistant, left, and Kiandria Bruce, registered nurse, review materials at the patient sign-in table during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Head and neck cancer literature is available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Dr. Alex Brooks and registered nurse Angela Noble talk during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Nina Brown, clinical manager, helps Ned Bostic with paperwork during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Resident physician Brooks Lampkin performs an oral cancer screening on Ned Bostic at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Ned Bostic receives a neck cancer screening during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
  • Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, and medical student Hanna Watson examine Ned Bostic during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hosted a free oral, head, and neck cancer screening Wednesday at the Jackson Medical Mall as part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The event featured quick, noninvasive screenings aimed at catching cancer early — when treatment is most effective. Onyx Care provided free HPV vaccinations, while the ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education, and Research offered resources on smoking cessation and free services.

“These screenings take about 10 minutes and can save lives,” said Dr. Gina Jefferson, head and neck surgical oncologist at UMMC. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better chance we have of curing it.”

Tobacco and alcohol use remain major risk factors for these cancers. However, physicians say an increasing number of cases are linked to HPV, especially among younger adults with no history of smoking or drinking. Dentists are often the first to spot early signs, which can include persistent sores, lumps in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

Oral, head and neck cancers are among the most common globally. When found early, survival rates can exceed 80 percent.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post UMMC holds free cancer screenings appeared first on mississippitoday.org


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about a free cancer screening event without showing a clear ideological stance. It primarily focuses on the health benefits of early cancer detection and the availability of free resources, such as HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation support. The language used is neutral and the content is centered around public health education rather than promoting a political viewpoint. The inclusion of factual statistics, such as survival rates and risk factors, adds to its informative and objective tone. There are no signs of bias or advocacy for a particular political agenda, making this a centrist piece.

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Crooked Letter Sports Podcast

Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball?

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1 day ago

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April 30, 2025

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mississippitoday.org – @rick_cleveland – 2025-04-30 10:46:00

by Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi State didn’t even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.

Stream all episodes here.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball? appeared first on mississippitoday.org

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Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

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1 day ago

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April 30, 2025

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mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-30 10:21:00

by Mississippi Today, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi Today is looking to speak with current and former mobile sports betting users. We’d like to speak with people who spend considerable amounts of time and money betting on sports through online gambling sites.

We’re interested in hearing the experience of people who have suffered from gambling addiction or problems, or friends and family members of people who have. We also would like to talk with people who believe legalizing mobile sports betting would benefit Mississippi and its residents.

We want to hear from you. Please take the survey below or contact Political Reporter Michael Goldberg by email at mgoldberg@mississippitoday.org

TAKE THE SURVEY:

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This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you appeared first on mississippitoday.org


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article from Mississippi Today appears to present a neutral stance, focusing on gathering input from various groups of mobile sports betting users, including those who may have experienced addiction issues. The content does not advocate for or against the legalization of mobile sports betting but instead seeks to gather diverse perspectives, including those of individuals who may support or oppose it. The language used is objective and does not suggest a particular ideological perspective, allowing for a balanced exploration of the issue at hand.

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