This website was created in the memory of our dearly beloved, April Love who was born in Texarkana, Texas on May 1, 1985 (then raised in Hope, Arkansas) and was murdered on September 11, 2005.
April has certainly graced all of us with her warmth, kindness, and glowing smile. The realization that her journey through this life has ended is both shocking and devastating for everyone that knew her. This site is intended to be a place for April's vast network of friends, and associates to memorialize her. Please feel free to post your condolences on the page, and if possible, contribute any stories, poems, photos, or videos. In order to pay tribute, please click on the Tribute and Condolences tab above, or on the link below the poem on this page. To send audio, video, or picture files, please email the website manager by using the designated tab for the Audio & Video page or directly at ryshellemonique@gmail.com. Thank you for gathering with us to uplift her memory. May God grant you comfort, as we all mourn the tremendous loss.
The domain name www.AprilLove.org has been established by Keni (kforema@uark.edu).This URL will simply redirect people to this site, but it makes it makes it easier to explain this site's address.
From the University of Arkansas "Grief counseling will be available to students, faculty and staff from Counseling and Psychological Services. For more information about services offered, please call (479) 575-2277." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Sympathy Letters to the Family Letters can be addressed to: Mr. Ira D. Love PO Box 1505 Hope, AR 71802
Funeral Services took place on September 21, 2005 @ Rising Star Baptist Church (Hope, AR).
For anyone who would like a copy of April's funeral program, please send your name and address to Hillary @ hklinge@uark.edu and she will gladly mail it to you.
If you would like to obtain an air-brushed shirt of April Love, Please e-mail AJ at sales@suthunmusicent.com for further information.
Please submit dates for April's timeline to the website manager.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Poems in Tribute to April Love:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL!!!
We love you and miss you terribly. We celebrate each day in our hearts with the many memories.
Mother 05/01/09
Celebration of Life
The celebration of life, shared in the beginning, and again, in the end. Yet we forget to celebrate it, in every moment we live. Time, days, years, go on, but are we alive? Alive and do not know it, sleeping in the world and dead to the life we are to live. To celebrate all life, the sparrow who sang in the morning, and died in the night, why do we not celebrate its life? To know thyself is to know you are alive - to give, to love, to seek truth, beauty, and suffer pain. In life as it is meant to be, pain is forgotten, and strength is all that’s left to be gained in the moment by moment celebration of life. ~ By Deborah Peabody
Happy Birthday April!
May your light continue to shine forever. Remembering you today and each day in our hearts. Gone but not forgotten.
Mother 05/01/08
Gone But Not Forgotten by Vanessa Jackson Fields
In Paradise you have found your dwelling place Surrounded by God's care No harm, hurt, or danger will you ever have to endure Your love continues to affect our lives as "Memories flower time and time again in the heart's garden"
You are gone but not forgotten Still alive in our hearts
Each season brings memories of the love you so freely shared. On the fresh fallen snow, I see your face aglow.
Spring is here, it's in the budding of the trees April showers, Spring flowers I'm reminded of the new life you have received. I see your radiant smile Shining from above through the summer sun. Fall reminds me of your purpose driven life Like a flourishing tree with changing leaves.
You are gone but not forgotten Still alive in our hearts.
Performed as song dedicated to April's memory, "In Bondage, A Moment of Rage" Play, March 25, 2006
Seasons Change by Charisma April, A time in life when all good things are in season Seeds become flowers and everything is dipped in sunshine And there is love There was love But Now April Showers cast our days to gray and we mourn the loss of our sunshine Southern bells toll with the heaviness of loss As we grieve our pink and green princess Bereaved by the theft of hope and of a future Bright as the smile that brought light to our grayest of days But not today… Partly cloudy eyes prepare to say farewell to our sunshine But, today, as the wind whispers and the sky smiles Werealize that our heart’s impending autumn could never take the place of April’s Love September 21, 2005 The first day of fall
Gone but Not Forgotten by Kelsey Y. Sheppard
You were so full of life, Always smiling and carefree, Life loved you being a part of it, And I loved you being a part of me.
You could make anyone laugh, If they were having a bad day, No matter how sad I was, You could take the hurt away. Nothing could every stop you, Or even make you fall, You were ready to take on the world, Ready to do it all. But God decided he needed you, So from this world you left, But you took a piece of all of us, Our hearts are what you kept.
Your seat is now empty, And it's hard not to see your face, But please always know this, No one will ever take your place.
You left without a warning, Not even saying good-bye, And I can't seem to stop, Asking the question why? Nothing will ever be the same, The halls are empty without your laughter, But I know you're in Heaven, Watching over us and looking after. I didn't see this coming, It hit me by surprise, And when you left this world, A small part of me died. Your smile could brighten anyone's day, No matter what they were going through, And I know everyday for the rest of my life, I'll be missing you. Love Always, Your Friends
To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me submitted by Gwendolyn Ragland
When I am gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do. You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears. Be thankful for our beautiful years. I gave you my love, you can only guess How much you gave me in happiness. I thank you for love you have shown, But now it’s time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must. Then let your grief be comforted by trust. It’s only for a time that we must past. So bless the memories within your heart. I won’t be far away, for life goes on. So if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear All my love around you soft and clear. And then when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say “Welcome Home.”
Happy Birthday April!!!!
It's not easy that you're not here with us but you will always be in our hearts. 'Til we meet.
With love always, Mother 05/01/07
MY DAUGHTER
Having a daughter is a dream Giving birth seems so real Looking at my precious being Seems impossible to believe
That perfectly shaped child So gentle and mild Watched her grow through the years A wonderful experience to share
The joy she brought to my life Certainly removed all my strife Thank God for such a creation She blossomed into a lovely carnation
She was like a glowing light Shining so bright in the night Together we now kneel in prayer This is what we both share
My daughter the gift of life Will always be my side
Today was the date that you were born 21 years ago. I remember the day like it was yesterday, a blessing from God and filled with unspeakable joy.
In one of the stars I shall be living In one of them I shall be laughing And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing when you look at the sky at night ....and there is sweetness in the laughter of all the stars.... and in the memories of those you love The Little Prince
I was given this poem by one of your friends because they are now able to smile when they look at the sky. I, too, smile when I think of your beauty, intellect, and love. Shine bright, my star.
With Love, Mother 05/01/06
Announcements: Friends of April Love are invited to gather to remember her life and legacy with a moment of reflection in front of the fountain on the Arkansas Union Mall at 5 p.m., on Thursday, September 21st, 2006.
For more information, email diverall@uark.edu or bsa@uark.edu
The Event Press Release: April Love was a student at the University of Arkansas for only 2 years, but she truly touched the lives of those around her, making a positive impact with every connection. Tragically, she was taken away from her friends and family in September 2005. Although she is no longer physically with us, her spirit lives on.
April Love was born in Texarkana, Texas on May 1, 1985, and raised in Hope, Arkansas. A 2003 honors graduate of Hope High School, April was a junior at the University of Arkansas, majoring in political science and African American Studies. She was a member of the UA Honors College and was active in many campus organizations at the university. She was survived by her parents, sisters, extended family, and many friends.
The April Love Memorial Scholarship has been set up by her family in her honor, and donations will be accepted during this event. ------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. Love, April's mother, worked on a project to raise awareness about Domestic Violence. If you are available, please attend "In Bondage, A Moment of Rage," an inspirational event on March 25, 2006 at 6:30 pm in the Perot Theatre.
Address: Perot Theatre 221 Main Street Texarkana, TX 903-792-4992, Doors will open at 5 p.m. There is also a pre-show from 6:30-7:00. Then a play at 7pm.
------------------------------------------------------------------ There have been two scholarships established in April's memory:
April Love Memorial Scholarship P. O. Box 1505 Hope, AR 71802 Bancorp South 870-777-2313
~and~
April R. Love Scholarship AKA - Kappa Iota P. O. Box 1327 Fayetteville, AR 72702 Arvest Bank 479-575-1099 / 800-874-1827
A Million Times We Will Miss You / Stuart Family (friend)
A million times we will miss you; A million times we will cry; If love alone would have saved you You would never have died. In life we all loved you dearly; In death we love you still; In our hearts you hold a place; No other one can fill. The pearl...
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Thinking of you Magic and April's family / Rhonda Rhodes Craig Sehon's Mom (was coworker with Mom )
By And By / Ira Love (Dad)
Temptations hidden snares often take us unaware and our hearts are made to bleed for many a thoughtless word or deed. And we wonder why the test when we try to do our best but we'll understand it better by and by.
Miss you every day.
Touched by an angel. / Candace Langton-Mason (Friend)
I can't imagine the strength that this family has gained from the pain that has been suffered. April taught me SO much about life. I never knew anyone that could be that AWAKE in the mornings! That smile got me through many days during our freshmen y...
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I'm so sorry about your loss though its been 4yrs / Bode (none)
Though i never knew April but her story's so so moving.I am all the way here in Nigeria trying to put my thoughts together to write up something for my friend i also lost the same year April passed on and i just couldn't help but look through April's...
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Uno nunca sabe con quien se puede encontrar... / B. Gutierrez (amiga)Read >>
Happy Christmas from heaven.... / IRENE MOMMY TO ANGEL KAYLA XAVIER 4EVER (DEC.22,2008)Read >>
I never met her either..but... / Valorie (None)Read >>
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