Recent Articles
- H.O.P.E needs your help to make their Thankgiving Dinner Collection a success
- Kucinich: Why I Voted NO
- CGW’s North Service Center remains closed for building maintenance
- Transitioning to the role of a stay at home mom
- APSU’s Downtown Art Gallery opening was the highlight of November’s Art Walk
- Blue Star Memorial marker dedication Monday
- Clarksville Dental Center hosting candy buy back to benefit the United Way
- APSU to celebrate National Distance Learning Week with several events
- Odom: ‘The court has ruled. Goins, Hargett do your job!’
- Patton to be portrayed at APSU library Athenaeum
- WKAG disputes Charter’s attempted justification for their removal of Channel 3
- Businesses in Historic Downtown Clarksville to hold Holiday open house
- Sluggish APSU Governors ease past Oakland City
- Home-Canned Apple Pie Filling
- APSU student Costello debuts photography and collage exhibit at Trahern
Official Sites
- City of Clarksville, TN
- Clarksville Department of Electricity
- Clarksville Gas and Water Department
- Clarksville Montgomery County School System
- Clarksville Police Department
- Clarksville, Montgomery County Economic Development Council
- Clarksville, TN Ordinances
- Fort Campbell, Ky
- Montgomery County, Tennessee
- Montgomery County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office
- Parks after Dark
Memorial service honors mother, children, victims in 1st degree murder case
Natalie A. Vullo and her two children, Diamin Lynette Shanklin and Paul Zacharius Vullo-Nelloms were remembered and honored recently with a memorial service and balloon release at Delivrance Outreach Temple.
Linda Shelton (center, in purple), holds tightly to her mother's hand as they stand surrounded by friends, watching the balloon release in memory of her daughter and grandchildren
In keeping with Christianity period of mourning, Lent, and in memory of lost loved ones, clusters of deep purple balloons were assembled for the ceremony. Included in the display were several colorful Disney balloons including Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and a number of happy birthday balloons, since young Diamin’s birthday would have been celebrated March 17, just weeks after her death.
Writing a note to friend lost.
Outside the church, a family car was decorated with photos of the family and messages to them.
As family and friends, many with young children who were classmates or playmates of Natalie’s children, assembled, they had the opportunity to write brief messages or love and rememberance to be attach to the balloons prior to their release.
On March Vullo, 30, and her children Diamin, 8, and Paul, 3, were found murdered at their 901 Cal Court home on February 19. Gerrard Exeter Robinson (B/M), 31, whose address according to the Montgomery County Sex Offender Registry at that time was listed as 205 Hermitage Road, reportedly confessed to the slayings. He is expected to apprear before the Grand Jury in early April on three counts of first degree murder.
That is little comfort to the family, including Natalie’s mother, Linda Shelton, who spoke briefly to the friends and family gathered in mourning. The service included prayer, songs sungs by Tay Burton and Shirley Bish, and brief words by Rev. Timothy Grant.
Outside, the mourners assembled close together, each taking hold of some of the hundreds of balloons, raising their hands heavenward, in a single movement letting the orbs rise to the clouds amid a mix of tears and a few smiles drawn from shared remembrances of happier times.
After the prayer service, guests prepared for the release of balloons.
“We continue to pray with you… to be strong and to march on,” Rev. Grant said.
The crowd stood silent, watching the ease with which the wind picked up the balloons and carried them aloft.
About Christine Anne Piesyk 
In my 40+ years in media, I have worked as feature writer, investigative reporter, editor, publisher, and film/theater/arts critic. I brought my liberal New England activism to Tennessee several years ago, having finally completed a mid-life undergraduate degree in community organizing and women's studies, and an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration in Alzheimer's Disease. I served on Future Search Commissions for two colleges and on homelessness for the City of Northampton (MA), where I applied some of my undergrad work in urban planning and community development. I am a member of FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties. I am a certified storm spotter just because weather fascinates me. In my spare time (define spare time please?) I am a voracious reader, obsessive movie buff, ballroom dancer, and classical music junkie. I also create sci-fi/fantasy and renaissance costumes. I see life as an ongoing opportunity for learning and adventure (one current interest is mastering preparation of foods from India and Southeast Asia). My dream: a return trip to Machu Picchu. After all, the best things still to come. All posts by Christine Anne Piesyk as presented on Clarksville Online are copyright ©2006, 2007, 2008 to the author.
Email: womanspeak@gmail.com
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.