EASTER MESSAGE FOR VICTIMS’ FAMILIES

            We, the Victims’ Families for the Death Penalty, would like to wish you all a Blessed and Happy Easter. Easter is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament.

            We know that many victims’ families had been grieving over the death of their loved ones and are suffering with sadness. Remember your loved ones are all in a better place now. We hope that this Easter, we will remember Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead and we can rejoice in remembering the one who died to save us from all our sins. He is our comforter and we encourage you all to remember this day. When he comes back to earth again, he will wipe out all evil.

(SOURCE: http://www.inkity.com/catalog/product/4/2984/An-Easter-Message.html)

             We will post several prayers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, to comfort those who lost their loved ones through murder:

The Collect for Easter Day:

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires; so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through Jesus Chris our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever, one God, world without end.

Amen.

The Second Collect, for Peace in The Morning Prayer 1662:

Oh God who art the Author of Peace and Lover of Concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom, defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies that we surely trusting in thy defence may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Second Collect at Evening Prayer:

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Litany 1662:

God, Merciful Father, that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as are sorrowful; Mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and graciously hear us, that those evils, which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us, be brought to nought; and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed; that we thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us, for thy Name's sake.

 

Litany 1662:

Let us pray.

WE humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and, for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved; and grant, that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for All Conditions of Men:

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [especially those for whom our prayers are desired]; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

For Peace, and Deliverance from our Enemies:

O Almighty God, who art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants again the face of their enemies; We yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparent dangers wherewith we were compassed. We acknowledge it thy goodness that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them; beseeching thee ill to continue such thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Burial of the Dead 1662:

ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity: We give thee hearty thanks, for that it hath pleased thee to deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching thee that it may please thee, of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

REMEMBERING TYUS SNEED AND KEENAN HUBERT (BOTH DIED ON MARCH 28, 2011 IN WACO, TEXAS)

            On this date, March 28, 2011, two African American teens, Tyus Sneed and Keenan Hubert were both shot dead by Rickey Donnell Cummings. Rickey Donnell Cummings was convicted of capital murder in the March 28, 2011 shooting deaths of Tyus Sneed, 17, and Keenan Hubert, 20, as they sat in the back seat of the car at the Lakewood Villas apartment complex, 1601 Spring St, Waco, Texas. Demontrae Majors, 22, and Marion Bible, 23, who were in the front seat of the car, were wounded but managed to flee to the safety of a nearby apartment. 

            We, Victims’ Families For the Death Penalty, were satisfied that Cummings was sentenced to death on Wednesday November 7, 2012, some justice was served here. Let us not forget the two boys by hearing from their parents:

SOURCE: http://www.kwkt.com/news/update-waco-isd-tightens-security-talk-of-retaliation-after-murder

QUOTE 1: Friday, November 2, 2012 - A McLennan County jury rejected Rickey Donnell Cummings’ alibi that he was selling marijuana six blocks away when two men were gunned down in 2011 at the Lakewood Villas apartments, convicting him Friday of capital murder.

Cummings, 23, who told jurors Thursday he was not involved in the deaths, showed no reaction when 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother read the verdict.

The crowded courtroom heeded Strother’s instructions prohibiting displays of emotion or other outbursts.

Security has been tight throughout the nine-day trial, but officials ramped it up even more Friday. At least 14 law enforcement officers were present in the courtroom when the verdict was returned, including deputies standing in the aisle to separate the victims’ families and friends from Cummings’ family.

Seventeen officers were stationed in the courthouse rotunda and almost two dozen more from various agencies watched over the courthouse parking lot as the crowd poured into the street after the verdict.

Cummings is one of four men charged in the March 2011 shooting deaths of Tyus Sneed, 17, and Keenan Hubert, 20, as they sat in the back seat of a car at the Spring Street apartments.

Two others, Deontrae Majors and Marion Bible, who were in the front seat, were wounded in the ambush but managed to escape the car and flee.

The punishment phase of the trial begins at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Cummings faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

The jury deliberated about three hours before convicting Cummings, whom prosecutors called a “cold-blooded, ruthless killer.”

Hubert’s father, Artie Matthews, called Friday a “good day,” and said Cummings deserves the death penalty.

“We’ve got one down, three to go,” he said, referring to Cummings’ co-defendants. “I want death, nothing but. He deserves to die. He’s a coward.”

Rickey Cummings flashes a peace sign after being sentenced to death in Waco’s 19th State District Court.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

QUOTE 2: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - While Rickey Donnell Cummings was on his way to death row, one of the fathers of his murder victims was headed to the cemetery to tell his son “we got him.”

Jurors in Waco’s 19th State District Court deliberated about 3 1/2 hours Wednesday before returning a death sentence for Cummings in the 2011 ambush-style slayings of two men at an East Waco apartment complex.

Cummings’ defense attorneys had hoped to spare him the death sentence, telling jurors that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst.

Prosecutors countered that the 23-year-old alleged Bloods gang member’s “callous, blood-thirsty” actions, plus an escalating spiral of violence, make him an ideal candidate for execution.

As Cummings was led from court, he smiled at his family members and told them he loved them and to keep their heads up. They said they loved him, too. He flashed a peace sign on his way to jail.

Cummings was convicted of capital murder Friday in the March 2011 shooting deaths of Tyus Sneed, 17, and Keenan Hubert, 20, as they sat in the back seat of a car at the Lakewood Villas apartment complex, 1601 Spring St.

Demontrae Majors, 22, and Marion Bible, 23, who were in the front seat of the car, were wounded but managed to flee to the safety of a nearby apartment.

Surrounded by family members and smiling occasionally, Robert Sneed, Tyus Sneed’s father, remained emotional, as he has been throughout the trial.

“It’s over,” he said. “We got him, we got him, we got him. Now, it’s time to go to Tyus’ grave and tell him we got him.”

Robert Sneed, father of shooting victim Tyus Sneed, is overcome by emotions after Rickey Cummings was convicted of capital murder Friday. Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

QUOTE 3: Hubert’s father, Artemus Matthews, had a different, anger-laced message for Cummings, whom he called a coward in his courtroom statement.

“I hope they kill you over and over and over,” Matthews said, taking note of Cummings’ tattoos. “You must like needles. They’ve got one waiting for you down there. . . . You’re going to come home in a body bag.”