A LARGE crowd descended on St Mary's Church this afternoon to pay their respects to murdered homeless woman Melita Jo, as part of a “final” memorial to help heal the painful lack of closure surrounding her tragic death.
The brutal killing of Mrs Jo in the church's graveyard last September has left a deep scar on the psyche of residents in Walthamstow, after 12 months of uncertainty with a drawn-out inquest, desperate attempts to track down her family, and a stalled police investigation which is still yet to catch her killer.
Today, on a cold but clear Sunday afternoon, people of all ages and faiths gathered at the church to say their goodbyes, and to dedicate a bench in her memory in its grounds.
A temporary plaque has also been installed while the church awaits planning permission for a permanent memorial.
Some wept as Rev Simon Heathfield delivered a powerful sermon, in which he revealed that Mrs Jo had told him just weeks before her death that she was happy at St Mary's and wanted to die there.
He said: “Who would have thought it that morning as police arrived and tents went up. Who would have thought it with all the brutality of it and what played out over the next few days.
“We all sought for meaning and understanding, not just at the church but way out into the wider community of Walthamstow and beyond.
“To see so many people here today just shows the community spirit of Walthamstow.
“But it's also a sign that people here don't want this violence in their lives and don't want to be passive victims.”
Mrs Jo was a well-known and much-loved figure in the area, attending the church and chatting to the many who walk through the churchyard every day.
She was finally buried in the Philippines four months after her murder following an exhaustive search to track down her family.
Rev Heathfield said that while the memorial was not a funeral, it was an opportunity for those residents who had wanted a ceremony in Walthamstow to say their final farewells.
He said: “Whenever you lose someone and you're not part of the process of laying them to rest it can be terribly disjointing. Some people experience that as pain, others as confusion.
“But now this is a chance to say goodbye after all that's happened, and it does feel like the right moment.”
Anyone with information that could help the murder investigation should call police on 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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