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Article: Amid Violence, Funeral Director Guides and Comforts Mourners; Her Relatives and Friends Have Been Gunfire Victims, Too
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 16, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The five teenagers stand before the casket at Mitchum-Wilson
Funeral Home in South Philadelphia, their eyes trained on the body
of the 14-year-old gunshot victim -- just a boy. Like them.
"This is the result of guns," says funeral director Charlene E.
Wilson-Doffoney, dressed in a dark suit and black patent-leather
shoes, her typical funeral-day attire.
She gently folds the powder-blue casket lining around the body.
"This is the part you guys don't know," she says, turning to the
teens. "He's not going to get up. This is it. This is what guns do."
She knows this firsthand. More and more.
Eighteen-year-old Derrick Derrickson, who previously was arrested
on gun charges, winces. "This is not ...