Covenant Presbyterian School Victims Remembered At The Angel Of Hope

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Posted by: Steve Hardwick
Date: Mar 28 2023 3:38 PM

Covenant Presbyterian School Victims

“ Don’t Let Anyone Tell You That These Bad Things Happen And Then Everyone Goes Back To “ Normal “ …You Don’t Have To Be Everyone. Stay With The Grief. Stay With The Anger. Stay Troubled By It All. Stay Open-Hearted To Others Who Are Grieving. Stay Tuned To Those Working For Change For Our Children’s Sake “

Today I placed these floral arrangements at the Angel of Hope for 9 year old Hallie Scruggs, for 9 year old Evelyn Dieckhaus, for 9 year old William Kinney, for Cynthia Peak, for Mike Hill and for Katherine Koonce.

Hallie Scruggs is the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church, which is affiliated with the school.

Chad described his daughter as "such a gift."

Evelyn Dieckhaus was a third grade student at the school, She has one sister, a fifth grader, who said,
“ I don’t want to be an only child" during a vigil held at a local church on Monday evening.

"Our hearts are completely broken," the Dieckhaus family said in a statement, “We cannot believe this has happened. Evelyn was a shining light in this world”

William Kinney was also a student at the Covenant School.

"Katherine Koonce was as solid as a friend could be,"
“ Her faith was her foundation. Her family was her greatest love, yet she always wanted to work and give back so other families and children could also feel loved and cared for."

Katherine was announced as The Covenant School’s new head of school in April 2016.

Mike Hill was a beloved custodian at the school and had worked at the Covenant School for more than 13 years.

Tim Dunavant, a former employee of the Covenant church and school and a pastor at Hartsville First United Methodist Church in Tennessee, said in a Facebook post that he had hired Hill.

"I don’t know the details yet. But I have a feeling, when it all comes out, Mike’s sacrifice saved lives," Dunavant wrote. "I have nothing factual to base that upon. I just know what kind of guy he was. And I know he’s the kind of guy that would do that. Goodbye Mike, I’m going to miss those encouraging texts out of the blue from you."

Cynthia "Cindy" Broyles Peak was a substitute teacher at the school.

Chuck Owen said “Cindy was a devout servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, She told me that she got saved in college and that God’s love changed her life.
I grieve through tears as I write these words, but I know Cindy is in Heaven with her father, Dr. Bill Broyles, her mother, Nell Broyles, and her oldest sister, Diane. ”

Please pray for each of the victim’s families and friends, for the children, teachers and staff who attend Covenant School and for the entire Covenant Presbyterian congregation and first responders.

Steve Hsrdwick

Wiregrass Angel Of Hope

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