Thursday, March 31, 2016

How Fast Life Can Change

by Denyea Wilcox


How fast life can change.


The month of March started off with a bang here in Oxford! The Oxford Goes Green First Friday event was a huge success. The Oxford family gathered together as they embellished the sidewalks, storefronts and street corners with a variety of plants and flowers. Lets not forget that delicious Mexican food and the exquisite merchandise being sold by the street vendors! OMI (Oxford Mainstreet, Inc.) also arranged numerous activities and programs that engaged the family and kids of the town. March 4th, definitely was a Friday to remember in Oxford.

After leaving the First Friday event in Oxford, I made my way up to Lincoln University to work an event hosted by my organization called PSU (People Standing United).  That night my organization hosted a social gathering on campus which raised funds for our community service activities. My brothers and I were excited because we had such a successful week of events at Lincoln, which commemorated our two year anniversary of being a part of PSU!

Everything was going well with my school work, my organization and my internship at OMI. I couldn't help but thank God for the blessings. Suddenly, life changed for me on Saturday March 5th, 2016. My PSU brother Christopher Robinson was tragically killed in an off campus shooting, in Coatesville, PA. The next Sunday morning, I was getting ready to go in to work when my PSU brother Corey called, to share the news. There was a sharp pain that came across my chest, and it almost felt like I was suffering from a heart attack. I could not believe the news, I couldn't understand how Chris was just alive one day and then he was gone the next. Christopher Robinson was a 22 year old young man, in college, with the rest of his life ahead of him. He was a brilliant individual and a good soul. To this day, it upsets me that he was taken away by a couple of ruthless thugs, for just a few dollars in his pocket. My heart and prayers goes out to his mother, father, little sister and the rest of his family. I truly do believe that a parent should never have to bury their children. On Saturday March 12, 2016, I attended my brother's funeral and I said my final goodbyes. These last couple of weeks have been hard on all of us, but with God's strength we are keeping strong. The brothers of PSU and the students of Lincoln University are going to honor his name the best way we can. We will continue to keep his exuberant spirit alive. I also would like to thank my family at Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. for supporting not only me but the family of Christopher Robinson, by contributing to his GoFundMe page to help his family pay for the funeral. 

Today is the 31st of March 2016, which is the last day of this month. Within this month I feel like I have grown and learned a valuable life lesson. The lesson is “life is precious and short, so enjoy the good times with the people you love because you never know what tomorrow holds”.  Now I look forward to the month of April, especially First Friday! Don’t forget to “Spring into History” on April 1st at 5-8 P.M. and celebrate the history of Downtown Oxford! See you there! 


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