A constant image in the aftermath of the Jefferson Avenue massacre has been the continuing presence of clergy of many faiths and denominations comforting the families of the dead and the community at large.
Rev. James A. Lewis III is familiar with death, from his years as a pastor and long-time director of pastoral care at Erie County Medical Center.
When the call went out of a mass casualty incident, ECMC and its current pastoral care team were ready, with sketchy knowledge of what had happened.
“That several people had been shot," Lewis said. "We didn't know who was dead, who was alive. Pastor Donnie Davis, who is the director of pastoral care at ECMC now, assembled all of his staff at the hospital, waiting for injured people to come to the hospital and it was just a sad moment when they realized only like three people were coming.”
Lewis said that was a shock to those familiar with death.
“They were looking for a lot of people to show, but for that many people to die instantly, that quickly, it was just a shock to everybody," he said. "And, you're right, when people have bad hearts, brain injury from a bad accident, we have time to work with a family. We have time to get them in shape so they can prepare for imminent death or whatever.”
The church pastor said it won’t be easy, but the families will recover, although there will always be reminders of who isn’t at the table for family events.
“On holidays, all of this will be re-enacted over and over and over again. And I feel so bad," Lewis said. "Mother's Day is coming up and grandmothers and mothers that died, the families will have a perpetual memorial that will be taking place in their lives. We pray that these families will be sustained through all of this.”
Lewis said he’s been doing that comforting and consoling since the shots rang out in the Tops market lot. And when victim families assembled with their lawyers to talk about lawsuits against those responsible, he was there also.
