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Title: This Grieving Wife Posed For a Heart-Wrenching Maternity Shoot. Then Look Who Shows Up…
Source:
scribol.com
URL Source: http://scribol.com/lifestyle/famili ... oot&utm_term=23842540557790430
Published: Jun 27, 2016
Author: Kieron Allen
Post Date: 2017-02-18 11:30:14 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 698
Comments: 2
When Meghan Jacobs lost her husband Allen in tragic circumstances, the fact that she was pregnant must have made it even worse. But, as her maternity photoshoot shows, she had a huge amount of support behind her. Allen, a 28-year-old officer with South Carolina’s Greenville Police Department, was a veteran of the Iraq War. In early 2016 he and his wife Meghan were well on their way to creating a three-child family. By the time they found out they were expecting a baby girl, the couple were already caring for Allen’s two other boys. They were going to become a family of five, but tragedy lay just around the corner. In March 2016 the unthinkable happened: Allen was killed in the line of duty. This was, moreover, just four months before the birth of his third child – a child he would never meet. The young father was shot dead by Deontea Perry Mackey – who was just 17 – in a residential area in broad daylight. After shooting the policeman, Mackey used the same gun to take his own life. Allen and his colleague were on a routine patrol through Greenville when they saw Mackey. They decided to pull the known gang member over for an interview, but instead he ran away. Allen pursued the teenager through woods and residential areas. But just 20 seconds after the chase was reported via police radio, another report came in saying that shots had been fired. Officers tried to resuscitate Allen – but, tragically, he later died in hospital. Less than a week after he was killed Allen was laid to rest at Coleman Memorial Cemetery. A grief-stricken Meghan must have been overwhelmed by the support she received from the community. A group of local kids even spent one weekend selling lemonade to raise money for the family. Meghan wanted to honor Allen’s memory, so she decided to do something truly special. She arranged to have a maternity photoshoot and scheduled it for Father’s Day 2016. The shoot would be orchestrated by photographer Jessie Ellex, Meghan’s best friend for over 15 years and someone who knew Allen as well. Certainly, it was going to be a very personal and emotional day. Meghan was photographed in a number of situations; in some she even wears her late husband’s uniform. And in many she is seen holding the American flag – the same one presented to her at Allen’s funeral. In another picture the grieving widow is seen with Allen’s badge tied around her baby bump with a ribbon. The whole scene is truly heartbreaking; it’s amazing how well she kept it together. Meghan was joined in the frame by others, too. In a beautiful show of solidarity a group of Greenville police officers stood behind her. It’s a powerful metaphor and an incredible sign of the support they provide. Meghan had the idea to include the policeman in her photos,” Ellex told WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4. “Since she had to do this without her beloved husband they are now her protectors.” “The world lost a police officer, but we lost our dear friend, husband, father, son and brother,” Ellex continued. “I hope that my photographs can help [Meghan] heal and others who may be going through the same situation.” Ellex posted some of the photos, along with a description of the shoot itself, to her Facebook page. And, as of June 2016, the post had received over 100,000 likes and almost 13,000 comments. Despite the tragedy, it’s important to remember that there’s new life on the way. Baby Lennox is due in July 2016, and her mom and Jessie have plans for another memorial after she’s born. When Lennox is born, we plan to mimic these exact photos with her and the policeman to show she will always be protected,” Jessie explained to WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4. It’s impossible to imagine the hurt and pain Meghan must have gone – and must still be going – through. But the solidarity and support demonstrated by her late husband’s colleagues must surely offer some comfort. 
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#2. To: Gatlin (#0)
Sad, sad story. So senseless. Punk should have never been let out.
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