Jackson, 17, was reported missing last Sunday after she didn’t return from her nightly visit to the park. Her body was found the next day.

“Michele made the world brighter,” said Farnhamville Mayor Troy Jepsen at Sunday’s vigil. “It is unfair that such a beautiful soul was taken from us too soon.”

Young and old in attendance at the candlelight vigil donned purple and black, Jackson’s favorite colors.

Guest speakers spoke of Jackson’s love of swinging at the park, of music, of helping others, and of anime.

-Photo by Julie Vinsand
More than 250 family, friends, and community members packed the Farnhamville City Park Sunday to honor the life of Michele “Luna” Jackson during a community candlelight vigil.

According to Rebecca Slawson, director of the Farnhamville Public Library, Jackson was excited to help plan the area libraries’ Comic Con event which was to have happened this past weekend. Slawson said the event was canceled because “it was just too hard knowing how much she was looking forward to that.”

Slawson noted how Jackson would often stop by the library to chat and had said how excited she was to participate this year in Southeast Valley High School’s Robotics Club, DECA, and working in the school’s new greenhouse.

“She was hyping up the school’s mum sale like it was nobody’s business,” said Slawson.

Jackson’s classmates in the greenhouse, many of whom were in attendance at Sunday’s vigil, donated a large purple mum from that sale to Jackson’s family earlier in the week.

“She had just started keeping track of her volunteer hours for Dollars for Scholars and was so excited about an upcoming campus visit to Iowa Central’s campus,” said Slawson. “I just want to remind everyone how precious and special Michele was.”

-Photo by Julie Vinsand
A hand-painted rock was placed at the memorial site for Michele “Luna” Jackson. The makeshift memorial at the Farnhamville City Park was created following Jackson’s murder one week ago.

Family, friends, and classmates in attendance also shared stories, hugs, and smiles as they recounted experiences with Jackson at the nighttime vigil.

“We have the power to create a safer, more just future by choosing peace over anger and love over hate,” said Jepsen. “Let’s also remember that we have the power to honor Michele not just in our words, but in our actions, by coming together to make our city a place where tragedies like this no longer happen.”