What came after

Remembering Her

Brandy's friends and family came together in the aftermath of a loss that left us shocked and grieving. Out of that pain, we built places and traditions to keep her light burning.

The Memorial Bench

After Brandy's death, friends and family raised money through wristband sales and a memorial concert organized by her friend Sebastian. With those funds, in January of 2013, a memorial bench was unveiled on the campus of Youngstown State University.

At last, Brandy's family and friends had a physical place to go to mourn and to remember. We hold our annual candlelight vigils there to this day.

Temporary location: While Kilcawley Center is under construction, the bench has been moved to the lawn between Maag Library and the Butler Institute of American Art on the YSU campus. See the Save the Date page for a photo.

With the donations that remained, we funded scholarships in Brandy's name for Boardman High School students pursuing an education in music.

I hope we can let the light of her memory burn out the shadow of the tragedy that took her from us.

Brandy's memorial bench at Youngstown State University
Brandy's memorial bench on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Candlelight Vigils

For many years, on or around May 17th, we gathered for an annual candlelight vigil in honor of Brandy at the memorial bench on the YSU campus. It gave Brandy's friends and family, who think of her every day, a place to come together and remember who she was. These gatherings reminded us that we are not alone in our pain, and that it is okay to remember Brandy in a positive light.

Our vigils were always open to the public, usually 20 to 30 people. We would say a prayer, light candles, share memories, and end with a (biodegradable!) balloon launch.

Going forward, we are gathering to mark the milestone anniversaries. We will come together for the fifteen year remembrance in 2027, and again for the twenty year remembrance in 2032. We would love for you to join us. See the Save the Date for details on the 2027 gathering.

Through the years

At the bench, together

2013 vigil
2013 vigil.
2017 vigil
2017 vigil.
2021 vigil
2021 vigil.
Balloon release at the candlelight vigil
Balloon release at the candlelight vigil.
Gathered at the vigil
 
At the bench
 
Candlelight
 
Remembering Brandy
 
Remembering Brandy
 
Parents of Murdered Children logo

How to Help

Our mission is simply to keep Brandy's memory alive and to tell her story, in hopes that maybe someone will learn from it and be compelled to cut dangerous people from their lives.

If you feel moved to make a difference for other families who experience such tragic loss, please consider Parents of Murdered Children (POMC), an organization that supported Brandy's mom throughout all of this. It receives little national attention and relies on donations to operate.

Learn about POMC →

Fifteen Year Remembrance

Join us in 2027

Saturday, May 15, 2027

Gather with us at the memorial bench to share memories and light a candle for Brandy.

Save the Date