Valerie Morelock

It's the old question, why do bad things happen to good people. That's a tough answer, but I know one lady who went out looking for answers in the word of God.

  "There is a time to weep, a time to mourn and a time to dance."

Solomon wrote those words 3000 years ago.

  "A time to be born and a time to die".

And yet Ecclesiastes 3 is like a warm hand cradling Jasmine Morelock's heart.

"And that's the part that's hard for people to understand how can you have so much joy, and rejoice; and celebration because you know you miss her so much."

Valerie was her only daughter.

"They'd fly kites at Broadmoor School. They'd play football even if it was muddy at Betty Virginia Park".

In high school Valerie started a bible study. One of her converts a high school drop out named Mickey.

"Mickey is now a surgeon, his grandma says, in New York City. And I thought "wow!"; for a high school drop out, because someone believed in him".

Valerie goes off to college to LSU in Baton Rouge. In the early weeks of her senior year, while returning very late to her apartment, just off campus. She notices two men following her. She goes to a friend's apartment.

"Peter ushered her in but right behind her were the perpetrators. They tied Peter up and stabbed him multiple times.
Valerie begged them to tie her up also but the perpetrators had other things in mind. They raped her then shot her in the head."

The next morning the Morelocks get a phone call.

"But what took over in my mind in this moment of time was an awesome awareness. Valerie my daughter is now in the presence of God, now at this hour Valerie is in the beauty of heaven".

On the trip to Baton Rouge, police escorted them through each town.

"They were trying to cradle us in their arms all the way to Baton Rouge, a feeling I will never forget".

There were two years, three trials, two men sentenced to life in prison. Now almost 40 years later Valerie's mother has written a book. Not to dwell on Valerie's death, but to celebrate her life.

"I need to have gratitude for this, chance to have had this child in my life. Life is beautiful and God meant for us to live with his word in our heart and to believe. We have troubles down here, and hurts and pain and disappointment, but she's in glory. Each time I see a child die, you know I want to go to the parents and tell'em its okay, its okay because it is.