11/01/2026
Thank you The Mark White Show for sharing my story and thereby also letting the community know what we do at VOCAL of the Shoals. Many people have no idea Victims of Crime and Leniency exist... I didn't know until I needed it. We need the community involved- you see the thing is, this is hard and so there are times a victim is unable to be present and be involved. Our members are mostly victims and that is wonderful- we feel a sense of honoring our loved ones lost and this group gives us purpose in helping others. I do believe though that it will take us all working together and as you said Mark, it's going to take those affected - victims -and those that simply care about the mission of creating safer communities. We are here to advocate for victims of violent crimes and support families who have lost a loved one one to homicide. Please know you are not alone and please join us at VOCAL if you have a heart for victims of violent crimes, and you want to help give victims a voice.
On October 23rd, 2015, Lorien Watson and her family were attending a Lauderdale County High School football game in Rogersville. Like so many others that evening, they had no idea that Connie Ridgeway had been murdered in an apartment across the street.
During our inaugural Rogersville Stand Against Violence Day, Lorien recalled that night and how she later learned what had happened. Looking back, she thought about how close they had been to such a terrible act of violence.
At the time, Lorien admitted that she thought of violent crime as something that happened to other people. She couldn’t imagine something like that happening to her own family.
On June 9th, 2018, everything changed when her husband, Michael, was killed by violence.
Lorien & Michael had moved to Rogersville in 1995, raised their three sons here, and become part of the community. Their boys graduated from Lauderdale County High School. Lorien taught preschool, and Michael volunteered his time helping with school activities, including working the chains at home football games.
They had built a wonderful life together in a community they loved.
Following Michael’s death and the trial that resulted in a life sentence for the person responsible, Lorien became involved with VOCAL of the Shoals in 2022. Today, she serves as the organization’s president, helping advocate for victims of violent crime & supporting families who are navigating experiences they never imagined facing.
During her remarks last Saturday, Lorien also remembered Rusty Earnest, whose life was taken by violence in eastern Lauderdale County on May 2nd, 2007. She reminded us that there are many families throughout Lauderdale County and beyond who continue living with the consequences of violence.
What struck me about Lorien’s story is how easily we can distance ourselves from something until it happens to someone we love. We hear about violent crimes, see the news reports, and feel sympathy for the families. Then life goes on.
For those families, however, life will never be quite the same.
That’s one reason Rogersville Stand Against Violence Day matters to me. We shouldn’t have to experience violence personally before deciding that victims and their families deserve our attention, compassion, & support.
I’m grateful to Lorien for sharing her story and for the work she continues doing through VOCAL of the Shoals. I’m also grateful that she was willing to return to the community where she and Michael built so many memories to help us begin this annual effort.
We cannot change what happened to Connie, Michael, Rusty, or the many others whose lives have been taken by violence. We can remember them, support their families, & work together to help prevent future tragedies. That’s what we plan to do.
I want everyone to know that you don’t have to experience someone’s pain to care about what they’re going through.
Making a difference begins with recognizing that what happened to someone else’s family matters, too.
Real stories.
Real people.
Real impact.
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Lorien Watson never imagined violence would take the life of her husband, Michael. Today, she uses that painful experience to help other victims and families through VOCAL of the Shoals.
Stories like Lorien’s deserve to be heard, and sharing them is a big part of why I do what I do through The Mark White Show. Winning Top Host would help me reach more people, raise awareness, and connect families with the support they need.
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