JUNE 19, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
Death penalty discourse
draws celebrity to Keizer
discovered the bodies of her tales of getting to know death
mother and stepfather a day row inmates, but was far more
after they had each been fi ery in his approach to the
stabbed 17 times.
need to move beyond capital
“We were threatened punishment.
or tempted – I’m not sure
“The death penalty is the
which – with the death lid to the garbage can and,
penalty by Clackamas County once we take the lid off, we
prosecutors,” she said. “One will be forced to look into the
prosecutor
rotten, stinking
told us that “ We were
m a g g o t
our
brother threatened or
infested mess
was exactly the
that is our
kind of person tempted — I’m
cr iminal
the
death
justice system,”
not sure which
penalty
was
Farrell
said.
designed for.”
“(The death
— with the
She said she
penalty)
is
pleaded with death penalty.”
primarily
the judge to
against
— Becky O’Neil McBrayer used
spare Joe’s life.
the
poor
He is currently
and
poorly-
serving a life sentence without defended. It is far more
the possibility of parole after expensive than life without
pleading guilty to two counts parole.”
of murder.
A study published in
“It was resolution in terms January out of Seattle
of judicial justice. I still relive University estimated that the
it every day, but I never have average death penalty case
to step foot in a courtroom costs Washington taxpayers an
again,” she said. “Let’s turn average of about $1 million
our attention to healing and more than cases where the
growth. We can direct pain death penalty was not sought.
into meaningful activities,
“We imperil ourselves
learn to smile again and love and our nation if we do not
life again. Killing the killer understand that at the core
won’t achieve any of those of all rights and struggles is
things. Let’s be one of the the demand that we honor
next states to say, ‘Not in our and value all of our citizens’
name.’”
unalienable right to life,”
Farrell relayed numerous Farrell said.
I N
O R E G O N
YEAR OF LAST EXECUTION
1997
tion
njec
hal I
: Let
hod
Met
For
Becky
O’Neil
McBrayer,
“closure”
is
something that belongs solely
in the realm of real estate.
“There isn’t closure for
murder family victims,” said
O’Neil at an annual meeting
and fundraiser at Keizer Civic
Center for the Oregonians
for Alternatives to the Death
Penalty. “Killing the killer
doesn’t bring anybody back,
it doesn’t solve anything, it
protects no one, but what
it does do is create more
victims.”
O’Neil McBrayer, whose
mother and stepfather were
killed by her brother, Joe
in 2006, was representing
Murder Victim
Families
for Reconciliation during
her talk. Her talk preceded
celebrity keynote speaker
actor Mike Farrell, famous
for roles in M*A*S*H and
Providence as well as being an
outspoken opponent of the
death penalty.
O’Neil McBrayer said her
brother became “increasingly
odd as a teenager and it
progressed well into his 20s.
My family didn’t know much
about family illness and even
in the weeks leading up the
murder, despite some red fl ags,
we didn’t really know how to
help Joe even though we were
trying.”
She and another brother
THE DEATH PENALTY
1978
Year the
death penalty
was affi rmed as
just punishment
by United States
Supreme Court
CURRENT NUMBER
OF MEN ON DEATH ROW
$$$
CURRENT
NUMBER OF
WOMEN ON
DEATH ROW
CO$T of
an aggravated murder case… in which
death penalty is on the table
4 38,651
$
*
in which death penalty is NOT
*
on the table $
216,693
Number of executions since 1978:
Since taking offi ce in February, Gov. Kate Brown
has said she will continue the moratorium…
2011 “ I am convinced we can fi nd a better
solution that keeps society safe,
Former Gov.
John Kitzhaber
declared a
moratorium on
executions.
2
supports the victims of crime and their
families and refl ects Oregon values.
”
— GOVERNOR KATE BROWN, 2015
*According to a study of Oregon cases published in the Lewis & Clark review in 2013. Other information compiled from multiple sources.
KEIZERTIMES/Andrew Jackson
Africa on display at KHM
African exhibits are on
display until Aug. 1 at the
Keizer Heritage Museum
and Keizer Community
Library, both on the ground
fl oor of the Keizer Heritage
Center, 980 Chemawa Road
NE.
Dr. and Mrs. LeRoy
Judd, missionary teachers in
various African countries
for 40 years, focus the
Heritage Museum display
on the country of Kenya.
A collection of musical
instruments, sisal and baobab
fi ber baskets, household
objects, Kitenge fabrics and
paintings are included in the
display.
A highlight of the Museum
exhibit is the painting titled
“Grace’s Grandma.” Grace,
a student of Mrs. Judd, had
proudly invited Dr. Judd and
his family to visit her home,
but she neglected to mention
that there was no road leading
to the homestead. Soon
the Judds found themselves
driving on cow paths and
then a dry river bed. Dr. Judd
also remembers it as the only
time he was asked to preach
seven different sermons in
one day, walking from farm
to farm.
As their farewell gift,
Grace’s grandmother gave
them a large, black goat that
was carefully laid in the back
of the station wagon on a
bed of green leaves. For the
several-hour drive home, the
goat would bleat at every jolt
and bump, greatly amusing
the three children. Mrs. Judd,
who was teaching art at a
high school, celebrated the
occasion by creating a small
portrait for a larger painting.
The Judds served with
the Africa Inland Mission in
Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia.
Dr. Judd taught in theological
colleges and seminaries and
also conducted a church
orchestra, working especially
with the brass section. Mrs.
Judd taught art in high school
and the women’s prison as
well as private music lessons.
The Judds retired from
work in Africa in 2014. Mrs.
Judd now teaches private
strings and piano lessons and
plays cello for the Salem Pops
Orchestra. Dr. Judd serves
as a volunteer at Keizer
Community Church and the
Keizer Community Library,
where his display features
Namibia. He also plays horn
for the Salem Pops and Salem
Philharmonic Orchestras.
WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit.
Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Celebration
Services
Saturday Evening
6:00 pm
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
Sunday Morning
9:00 am
and
10:45 am
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 10:00 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org
Jason Lee UMC
820 Jeff erson St. NE
Salem OR 97301
Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor
The church with the purple doors
503-364-2844
Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available
Faith Lutheran Church
4505 River Rd N • 393-4507
Sunday Schedule:
9:00 a.m. Children’s Church
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities
Pastor
Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion