Vigil held in memory of Clovis librarians

CLOVIS — Margaret Hinchee's voice broke, and she cried at times, as she spoke about lost members of her library family.

"Both women were strong and beautiful souls. The library will never be the same without the two of them," said Hinchee, director of the Clovis-Carver Public Library, which was the scene of a mass shooting on Monday that claimed the lives of library workers Krissie Carter and Wanda Walters.

"My staff — we are strong, we are family, we will get through this. We will be back. We will do what we love to do.

"It's going to be a tough couple of months ahead of us, but we are ready to begin our healing."

Hinchee spoke to a library parking lot full of people during a community candlelight vigil Thursday honoring the four injured victims, in addition to those killed.

Of Carter, the children's librarian, Hinchee said:

"She knew every child by name. She knew every child by heart. She was a blessing to each and every life she touched."

Of the library's circulation assistant, she said.

"Wanda Walters was a strong and joyous woman. She served the public with a smile on her face and a song in her heart."

Other speakers also sparked emotion from the crowd.

Pastor Delmus Gillis of Bethlehem Baptist Church captured applause as he praised the community's resolve in the face of the shooting as well as the widespread threats of violence that rocked Clovis on Wednesday evening.

"Tonight we stand with broken hearts. We stand with tears in our eyes. We stand with questions that cannot be answered ... And yet, we still stand," Gillis said.

"We are indeed one family tonight. We are indeed one community."

Mary Helen Rodriguez said she came to the ceremony with her family to show respect for victims and to stand strong with the city.

"We're not going to be bullied by these acts of terrorism, that's what I call them anyway," she said.

If the night had a theme, it was family and unity.

Hinchee thanked everyone for that support, "from the bottom of my breaking heart."

— Editor David Stevens contributed to this report.