BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Death is inevitable, but as a rule, parents don’t expect to bury their children. However, nearly two weeks, ago, Ms. Vannetta Scott found herself attending the funeral of her 5th child, Iesha Dominique Washington.

No Death Threats
Ms. Scott said her family did not receive any death threats. But, she wanted to let everyone know how special her youngest daughter was.

During the funeral services for 18-year-old Iesha Washington, Ms. Scott said she felt the need to send a message to the nearly 2,000 people who attended. Iesha was killed during a shooting at a party on July 29th.

“My daughter was supposed to speak, but she couldn’t do it. I just said, ‘Spirit, have your way,’ and I spoke at her funeral. The message then as it is now is, “It’s enough, enough is enough, there has been enough killing. It has to stop now. I have a lot of anger, but I won’t seek retaliation. God is too much into this. I’m asking Him to give me some kind of respect and peace of mind.

“The pain is unbearable. My son saw his sister die. My other daughter held her and wiped away the blood from her face. I don’t want another mother to feel what I’m feeling. I don’t want another family to have to suffer like my family is suffering right now. It hurts so bad.”

Ms. Scott said she really doesn’t remember much of the funeral because her grief was too great. However, she was told that she received a standing ovation.

The Next Step
Ms. Scott said after the funeral, she was approached by someone who told her that she should speak out against the violence. As the mother of a murdered child, Ms. Scott plans to take her message to the masses. She plans to start by speaking to the students at Spoto High School, where Iesha would have started her senior year next week.

She hopes that the message she carries will make someone think before they resort to picking up a weapon. She hopes to prevent another tragedy such as this.[private]

Effect On Family
It has been twenty days since Iesha was killed and her mother cries every day. “Sometimes, it can be a song or a television commercial that makes me think about her. My nephew came up to me and said he wanted to go back to the church to see Iesha sleeping. Jeffrey is two. She had a special relationship with kids.

“She has 2 nieces, Kyndi was born June 30th and Kaelyn was born August 24th of last year and she was looking forward to Kaelyn’s birthday party. She just loved children and they loved her.”

Her 5 siblings are each trying to handle her death in their own way.

About Iesha
Born on July 17, 1993, Iesha Washington was a happy person. Since her death, her mother has been looking at pictures and said she couldn’t find a single picture where Iesha was not smiling.

She was a young woman who knew what she wanted and took action to make it happen. Her mother said she wanted to be ahead in school so she took classes during the summer.

Iesha planned to seek a career as an ESE teacher.

God Was Preparing Her
Looking back over events leading up to her death, Ms. Scott said she believes God was preparing Iesha. The family went to Applebee’s to celebrate her 18th birthday on July 15th.

Ms. Scott said when she asked Iesha about the type of cake she wanted. “She said she wanted a Hanna Montana cake and I asked if she was serious. She sang and she was so happy. She was glowing. God was already preparing her.

Iesha had been attending church on a regular basis and on the day after her 18th birthday, she joined New Hope Tabernacle of Joy, the church her uncle, the Rev. Harold Scott pastors.

The following Sunday, on July 24th, Iesha was baptized by her uncle.

In the days leading up to her death, Iesha spent special moments with her grandmother, Mrs. Annie Bell Brown.

“They had gone on the porch and there was a dove out there. Iesha tried and tried to shoo him away, but he wouldn’t leave. Finally, she told my mother, ‘I guess the dove just wants to be with me.’ She didn’t know God was getting her ready.

“She was a very respectful child. I’m glad I got a chance to tell her how proud I was of her at the Baptism and just how much I loved her. God answered my prayers.”[/private]

Pictured: Ms. Vannetta Scott, center, is shown with two of her daughters, Ishia Washington, left, and Iesha Washington, on the right.