Grace in Her Grief

It’s been one week since Laura Hughe’s husband Jason was killed right outside their home. The person who killed him has been arrested and criminally charged.With no warning, no time to prepare for tragedy, Laura’s life has been upended. She is no longer a loving wife with a husband to share the ups and downs of parenting her two sons with. She is now a shocked, grieving widow attempting to navigate her own pain while leading her sons through theirs. 

It was supposed to be a fun night. She and Jason are both teachers at the same high school, making their home worth double the points for anyone who successfully toilet papered it without getting caught. It’s an annual prank. The Hughes were on to it. Jason was excited about sneaking up on the teens - catching them in the act and emerging victorious.  

The five teenagers successfully “papered” the yard and divided into two vehicles, prepared to leave. That’s when Jason sprang out after them. But he slipped on slick footing, falling to the ground in front of the pickup truck driven by 18 year old Jayden Wallace. 

Jason was run over. 

All five teens, horrified, leapt out of their vehicles and did their best to render aid while paramedics were called, but Jason’s injuries were fatal. 

No one would blame Laura for being angry- for wanting at least the driver, if not all five teens, punished. 

Instead, she is pleading for all charges to be dropped. Her husband loved his students, Laura is quoted as saying, and would not want them to be punished for an innocent prank gone wrong.

The NY Post and other media outlets offered this direct quote : “This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students…This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”

Such grace even in her grief. 

All five of those teenagers will have to live with their guilt for the rest of their lives. By all accounts, all of them are good kids with bright futures, and all of them adored Jason. Yesterday, the family of Jayden Wallace issued this statement on the local channel 11Alive show: “We are a family in deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community. Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden….“He took the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact. Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.”

Jayden’s own statement reflects the  same: “I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten.” 

Six families are forever altered in the blink of an eye. Two little boys face life without their father. One woman faces a future alone in ways she could not have imagined being - at least, not so soon. Not so young. Not so suddenly. Jason Hughes’ extended family and friends face the daunting task of healing their own shattered hearts, and the five families of the teens involved face lifetimes under the weight of guilt and regret. 

There is still beauty awaiting all of them. It will be hard earned, but something tells me they will find it - because Jason’s widow is already leading the way through her own grace.

According to news reports, the Hall County DA is open to honoring Laura’s request, and dropping charges. That would be another wave of grace. 

As we all tend to process life through our own life’s lens, I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like, if my husband’s death had not been so intentionally inflicted by not just a remorseless, but gloating individual. Would it have lessened the roadblocks on my own path to healing? 

I have my opinion, but I suppose that doesn’t matter- because I’ll never know. But I can hope it would have helped me show the same grace as Laura Hughes. 

Contribute to the GoFundMe established for the Hughe’s children