Monday, Aug. 22, marks the anniversary of the death of Agnes Furey. A few days before that, a memorial gathering celebrating her life took place Saturday at the United Church of Tallahassee.
A number of speakers recalled how their lives had been touched by Furey’s devotion to forgiveness and restorative justice following the 1998 murder of her daughter and grandson.
“Agnes, thank you for your example of love and for your legacy of living a life of peace,” exclaimed one of them.
Furey extended that love and forgiveness to the murderer, Leonard Scovens. He and Furey went on to co-author a book on the power of restorative justice, excerpts of which were read at the service. Afterward, FSU Professor Tom Taylor moderated a discussion on the topic.
“The hope is this experience can be shared in other communities around Florida and around the country. And so, this message is going forward. I think she lives on in many ways,” Taylor remarked.
Agnes Furey died of complications from COVID-19 on August 22, 2021. She was 84.
