The Brief History Of
Jessica Marie Lunsford

The history of Jessica Marie Lunsford is all too brief. She was born on October 6, 1995 in Gastonia, N.C. to Angela Wright and Mark Lunsford. She had moved to Homosassa Florida just a year before her tragic death.

On February 24, 2005, nine-year-old Jessica was abducted from her home and died three days later on February 27, 2005 after being held captive, raped and buried alive by John Couey, a known sex offender.

Jessica lived with her parents and grandparents in their home. Couey was a neighbor with a sex crimes conviction history. He was 47 years old when he took little Jessica's life.

Every child is special with a unique character that holds the seeds of the adult they will become. Unfortunately, Jessica Marie Lunsford was denied the opportunity to achieve her full potential in life, yet her brief life has made a significant impact on history.

As a result of her death, legislation was passed into law that increases the protection of children against sex offenders who prey on their innocence and inability to defend themselves.

Jessica's parents separated when she was a year old and was very close to Ruth, her grandmother. Whenever Ruth and Jessica would go shopping, everyone knew and liked "Jessie."

There are memories from her grandmother on the website for the Jessica Lunsford Foundation about the neatness of her personality and attention to detail that is unusual in children. Everything had to be organized "just so."

She had a vibrant personality and dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer and a fashion designer, a natural extension of her love of clothes, particularly a shiny black raincoat she had modeled in a church fashion show, Capri pants and "skorts." And she practiced designing fashion for the dolls she collected by using old clothes for the materials.

Jessica had all of the characteristics associated with femininity and being a girl; pink and purple were her favorite colors, she collected Barbie and Bratz dolls with her grandmother and loved to watch "The Princess Diaries" on the Disney Channel. She loved makeup, jewelry, shoes and to dress up her dog "Corky."

And like most young girls, she had a best friend, Tiffany that she spent time with: playing and sharing her secrets. Together these two best friends performed cheerleading and gymnastic routines together.

With plans to one day have a band, Jessica and Tiffany spent many hours together doing karaoke and dancing at Jessica's house or outside riding their bikes together.

Although she had many things that she liked to do, her grandmother stated that she was a very well behaved, obedient and respectful child. She never argued or threw a tantrum, a credit to her involvement with her church where she attended the youth program every week.

There are many other characteristics and memories of Jessica Marie Lunsford that her family and friends share. The loss of her life, presence, talents and skills make it clear that our children must be treasured and protected from predators more fiercely in this day and time.

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