OXFORD, Miss. – Celebration of Lives, a memorial service for the six members of the Oxford community who died in a plane crash this past Sunday, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 20) at the C.M. Tad Smith Coliseum on the campus of the University of Mississippi.
Three local couples – Dr. Jason Farese and his wife, Dr. Lea Farese, Dr. Michael Perry and his wife, Kim, and Dr. Austin Poole and his wife, Angie – died in the accident near the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport in Alabama as they traveled back to Oxford.
Saturday’s service will provide members of the community an opportunity to gather and share remembrances of the loved ones. Family members, friends and local ministers will participate in the service.
Friends of the victims’ children, including classmates and team members, are invited to sit in a reserved seating area behind the families.
All those attending are encouraged to write a special remembrance of the victims. These remembrances will be collected in a book and given to the surviving family members.
Local and area dentists will serve as ushers at the service.
Details about individual funeral services will be announced, as well as information concerning any memorials being established for the families.
Parking will be available in the coliseum parking lot and surrounding areas. Those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive early due increased traffic as Ole Miss students arrive for classes, which begin Monday.
Members of the media: An area within the coliseum will be reserved for members of the media. Any members of the media planning to attend are asked to contact Jon Scott, director of public relations, or Mitchell Diggs, assistant director of public relations, to obtain media credentials before to the service. For credentials, call 662-915-5231 or 662-915-5639 or email jonscott@olemiss.edu.