Packed Tulsa Chapel Mourns, Celebrates Life Of Slain Teen Honor Student

If there's one thing everybody knew about Gabby Bledsoe, it's that she always had a smile on her face.

Saturday, March 9th 2013, 7:36 pm



Hundreds gathered on Saturday to say a final goodbye to a murdered Tulsa teen.

Gabby Bledsoe was stabbed to death at her home March 2.

And as of now, her murder is unsolved.

It was standing room only at the chapel, and attendants said they stopped counting at 1,080.

Gabby's friends and family said that love and support is a testament to how Gabby lived her life.

"She [knew] how to love; she [knew] how to smile," Rev. Carl Morgan said.

If there's one thing everybody knew about Gabby Bledsoe, it's that she always had a smile on her face.

Her smile so infectious in life, and it's what her family and friends say they'll cling to as they cope with her death.

"She was goofy, she was funny," cousin Dezarae Bledsoe said. "She was a little Energizer bunny. We gonna miss her really much."

But being silly didn't keep Gabby from hitting the books.

She was a straight-A student at Rogers High School and as an athlete, she liked basketball, softball and track the best.

She had a 3.8 GPA and was taking college prep classes with hopes to become a lawyer.

Her favorite color was purple, and that was reflected on every pew inside Crown Hill Chapel.

"We love her, as you all can see. We love her," grandmother Teresa Releford said.

For Releford, the service was a celebration of life, and she said she walked away feeling more at peace than she has all week.

"I feel a lot better, but I'm still hurting," Releford said. "I just thank God for allowing me to see her grow up, to see 18 years."

Gabby's mom found the teen stabbed to death last weekend.

Her killer has not been found.

"I just hope and pray that it be justice after this," Releford said.

And while there's hope for justice, her family said its main focus now is on how Gabby lived her life, not on how it was taken away.

"I got news for you, even though Gabby is gone, you can reflect and remember a time in her life -- a certain smile that she had," Tony Maxwell said. "[It should] just lift you up and give all the meaning [about] why you should go on and [carry] on,"

Gabby's family said she was an angel in disguise, who's now wearing wings on the streets of Heaven.

Police haven't named a suspect, but they said they have collected evidence, fingerprints and DNA from a person of interest.

If you have any information about Gabby's death you can call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or text 918TIP to "Crimes."

 

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

March 9th, 2013

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024