Vigil honors life of 10-year-old

By JEANNE STARMACK

starmack@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Candlelight Vigil

Gallery

A vigil was held for three people killed in a fire on Powers Way In Youngstown.

Candlelight Vigil

Video

Hundreds turned out in Youngstown to remember three people who died in a housefire.

It sat among the plethora of stuffed animals in the small yard in front of the burned and boarded up house at 3631 Powers Way.

A lanky blue monkey with a paisley pattern that was clutching a weathered note: “You are my best friend.”

She had a lot of friends, said Sonja Corum, who was one of them — Corinne Gump, 10, was a “very respectful, very nice” child, who was loved by a lot of people, she said. Corum had stopped by the house Tuesday with her husband, Lester.

Also walking by the house on their way to a candlelight vigil to honor Corinne, who died in a fire there March 30, were her cousin Jocelyn Getsy, 13, of Lowellville and her stepsister Malayna Koziorynsky, 11.

They remembered their close friend — riding bikes together and playing outside.

A few blocks up the street from the house at a small park, a crowd was gathering.

There, a close friend of Corinne’s father and the organizer of the event was waiting with a poem he’d written for the little girl whose life was cut short and for his friend who had to bear the pain of losing her.

A songwriter was waiting with a song just for them.

A singer would lift her voice up in an impromptu and beautiful a capella version of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,”

A reverend would say some words about the reason for the vigil Tuesday evening, which was to put aside feelings of anger and honor Corinne and her grandparents, William and Judith Schmidt, who also perished in the fire.

The fire is suspicious. It happened hours before Corinne was to testify in the trial of Robert Seman of Green Township, who is charged with raping her. Police are investigating Seman and have served search warrants at his home, a vehicle and some of his property at the Mahoning County Jail.

“We need to honor and celebrate Corinne’s life tonight,” said the Rev. Freddie Rodriguez of Salem. “Lay down our judgment and any anger and honor this girl’s life along with her wonderful grandparents.”

As they gathered, they made sure to find out how they could help Corinne’s father — Ethan Gump of Brownlee Woods.

“We are raising money for any funeral costs and to help with anything after, such as a headstone,” said Patrick Hagerty of Liberty, Gump’s friend who organized the vigil, which was also part fundraiser.

Hill Top Chicken N More, a neighborhood restaurant across the street from the park, donated all proceeds from Tuesday sales to Gump for expenses.

Memorial T-shirts are available on order from Knight Line Signature Apparel in Girard. There is also a gofundme account link on Hagerty’s Facebook page, he said.

Making her way through the crowd in search of tickets for baskets being raffled was Linda Kovachik of Boardman.

She had come, she said, for the Schmidts’ elderly neighbor across the street, who took their deaths very hard.

“They did her leaves, and shoveled her snow,” Kovachik said.

“It’s hard to believe a human being could do this,” she said.

The crowd grew quiet to listen to the songs and the speakers.

Eddie Berg, a musician who performed for “Kick Out the Violence” last year in Youngstown, wrote “Corinne’s Song” at Hagerty’s request.

“A precious child, a gift from God,” he sang.

“We say goodbye this day,” he continued.

“But the memories, the stories shared of love and better days

Puts the wind beneath this Angel’s wings.”

Susie Prosser, who sings with Berg in a band called Hat Trickz, sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” a capella.

And Hagerty, who said he can’t write songs, wrote a poem instead.

“If I could write a song, what lyrics could I use

to tell this ugly world of the beauty I saw in you,” he recited.

After closing prayers by the Rev. John Harris of St. Francis Anglican Mission of Youngstown, the vigil proceeded to the house at 3631 Powers Way.

There was more singing: “Amazing Grace” and “You Are My Sunshine.”

Then candles were raised in one last tribute.