Candlelight vigil for Joy Grandgeorge

At 7:30 Monday evening, about 70 people held a candlelight vigil in front of the Grandgeorge house to show love and support for Joy Grandgeorge, a Clarion resident severely affected by cancer. The group included members of Joy’s church family, the daycare children she’s cared for, and family friends.

The vigil was the idea of 8-year-old Kenna Chapman. Kenna and her mother, Raejean, led the service with scripture reading and prayers. Though Joy wasn’t well enough to go outside, the group showed their support with hymns and a shout of “We love you, Joy!”

“I want to cheer you up, and so does everyone else,” Kenna said. “We love you. You are a good friend. This is for you. We pray God takes the cancer.”

There are also efforts under way to assist the Grandgeorge family with medical costs. A benefit dinner with silent and live auctions is planned for October 30 at the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows High School. If you’d like to be involved, contact Raejean Chapman. Evan Freybler, one of Joy’s daycare children, also plans to sell crafts and goodies at the October 8 farmer’s market on the courthouse square to benefit Joy.

For more photos, see the September 29 edition of the Monitor.