Lesslie family to be part of Sunday prayer vigil in Rock Hill for shooting victims

This weekend, there will be a central place where all of Rock Hill can remember the victims of Wednesday’s mass shooting.

And the community memorial and prayer vigil will include the Lesslie family, who had four members killed in the incident.

Dr. Robert Lesslie — who was a well-known doctor and friend to many in York County for decades — was killed, and so was his wife, Barbara, and two grandkids, Noah and Adah.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill, according to a written statement from the Lesslie family and other organizers. Fountain Park is at 300 East Main Street.

A statement from the Lesslie family provided to The Herald said they want the public to be a part of the event, along with family and friends. The memorial service will be officiated by Rev. Barry Dagenhart of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Bob Elliot or Edgemoor ARP Church, the family said in the statement.

The statement said:

“Members of the Lesslie Family and close friends have organized the community memorial for a public remembrance and celebration of the lives of Robert, Barbara, Adah and Noah. Members of the community who wish to attend are asked to dress in bright colors and come in a spirit of joy and hope in the grace and peace we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The outdoor service will include music, prayer and words of remembrance and hope. Candles and bubbles will be provided.

The family asked that balloons not be brought and released.

The memorial provides a single community event for family, friends and the public to share, the family said.

Community support

Beth Langley, a longtime Rock Hill resident who has been friends with the family for decades, told The Herald Friday she will help host the event with Rev. C.T. Kirk of Sanctuary of Life Outreach Center in Rock Hill.

“The Rock Hill community is suffering an unbelievable loss,” the event Facebook post reads. “If you know the Lesslie family, you know just how special they are to so very many of us. You also know how they made sure we knew how special we were to them. … The family has given me their blessing in this expression of our love and sorrow.”

As of Friday morning, the event had been shared over 270 times and over 1,000 people said they’d be interested in attending on Facebook.

“They are well-known and so-respected and so-well-thought-of in our entire community,” Langley told The Herald, “that I just wanted to have one central place where perhaps those who aren’t able to attend the funeral could get together and show the Lesslie family how much we love them and are praying for them.”

James Lewis of Gastonia, N.C., who was working on the family’s air conditioning unit outside the home, was also found dead at the scene. A sixth person, HVAC worker Robert Shook of Cherryville, N.C., was shot and was airlifted to a Charlotte hospital from the house, The Herald previously reported.

The gunman was Phillip Adams, a Rock Hill High School alum and football player who’d go on to be one of the many from this 70,000-person town to realize their NFL dreams. County Coroner Sabrina Gast confirmed that authorities found Adams dead Wednesday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“The two children who were killed are the son and daughter of Jeff Lesslie and Katie Lesslie,” Langley said. “And Katie has requested that everyone wear the brightest color clothing they have possible in honor of their children — who were the brightest lights imaginable.”

Kirk, who was asked to help organize the vigil, has helped lead Rock Hill through trying times: Notably, in May 2020, the middle school history teacher, author and pastor helped spearhead a peaceful rally in Rock Hill of 1,000-plus people in protest of police brutality and racial injustice after the killing of George Floyd.

There will be prayer and music at the event Sunday. Organizers ask to adhere to COVID safety protocols.

How to send condolences and support the Lesslie family

The Lesslie family said in the statement they had received support from across America.

“The Lesslie family extends its deepest gratitude to this outpouring of love as they continue to respectfully ask for privacy and prayers as they grieve,” the statement from the family to The Herald said.

To help facilitate the support to the victims and their loved ones, the family has set up dedicated email and mailing addresses for emails, letters and cards.

Cards and other regular mail can be sent to, “Lesslie Family, P.O. Box 36306, Rock Hill, S.C. 29732.”

All inquiries or offers of support can be sent to by email to: LesslieFamilyMemorials@gmail.com.

Emails in support of Robert And Barbara Lesslie can be sent to that same address..

Emails concerning Adah and Noah Lesslie can be sent to: AdahandNoahLesslie@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local food pantry or Camp Joy, 918 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Suite 106, Greenville, S.C. 29607.

Donation bins for non-perishable food and books in honor of the family will be on site.