Logan Correctional holds remembrance honoring Allissa Martin

 

[June 04, 2020] 

On Tuesday evening correction officers and other staff from the Logan Correctional Center and the Lincoln Correctional Center came together to remember a dear friend and co-worker Allissa Martin on the one-year anniversary of her death.

Martin, on June 2, 2019, attended a sporting event in St. Louis with her spouse. At the end of the event an argument between the two resulted in Martin falling from the third level of a parking garage.

Martin was a correction officer at Logan Correctional Center. That group was hard hit by the loss and mourned her death with her family.

Earlier Tuesday evening, friends and family had gathered at Eaton Field for a candlelight vigil honoring Martin and speaking out against domestic violence. Then at 8 p.m. the separate service for all the staff of the correctional facilities was held on the front lawn of the Administration Building at LCC.

At the prison, those who gathered together in front of the memorial stone placed at the prison for Martin launched lanterns in her memory. Shaun Dawson, AFSCME Council 31 Local 2073 President led the service. He began by explaining that the lanterns would be lit and set upward to Allissa. He said that lanterns and markers were being laid out for everyone to take one. They could also write a personal message to Martin on their lanterns before launching.

As notes were being written, one close friend and co-worker came forward to say something in memory of Allissa. The friend said that Allissa was a one-of-a-kind person who brought joy and spread happiness to all those around her. She said that Martin had been an inspiration to her and a great help to her many times.

Dawson also spoke. He said that since last year the group had been through a lot together. He noted that last year when Martin passed away, the mantra “Logan Strong” had become very popular. He said that the events of the past year had exemplified that message as the group had faced pandemic and many other challenges.

He said no matter what, they had all walked through those challenges “Logan Strong.”

Dawson said also that Martin was a unique and strong person with a positive attitude toward everything. He said “She could walk into a room with 100 negative people and five minutes later there would be 101 people with a smile on their face. This is what we remember. What we will also remember about Allissa was the light that she gave to us. Tonight we’ll shine a little bit of that light down here and send it up to her.”

Dawson shared a short poem that described Martin perfectly, “In your darkest days just turn around and I will be there. Maybe I won’t have any more light to give than what you already have, but I will take your hand and we will find the light together.”

To the group before him he said, “Thank you for being who you are, thank you for doing what you do, and keep being Logan Strong.”

As the lanterns were being lit, Martin’s co-worker Officer Ernst, came forward and sang Amazing Grace.

Messages were written on the lanterns and the candles lit. The group then moved off of the lawn and into the roadside in front of the prison where the lanterns were let go to float to the heavens.

As the lanterns floated through the sky a song was dedicated to Martin’s memory:

Well done

Just wanna make it to heaven
I just wanna make it in
I just wanna cross that river
I wanna be free from sin
I just want my name written (Oh Lord)
Written in the Lamb's Book of Life
When this life is over
I just wanna have eternal life
Oh wanna hear Him say,
Well done, well done, well done!
You can come on in.

[Nila Smith]