Vigil remembers Philo grad Natalie Martin
DUNCAN FALLS — The last two weeks have been horrifying for Brooklyn Ferrell and her friends.
When Philo classmate Natalie Martin was the victim of an alleged murder during a senior trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, they lost one of their own. She a vibrant soul, Ferrell said, one that had friends in all corners.
A vigil was held in her memory in conjunction with Franklin Local Schools on Friday night at the Philo Athletic Complex, where friends, family and community members came to talk about the former soccer and softball player.
"I feel like it's going to bring me peace," Ferrell said on Thursday. "It's a good way to get people together to help with the healing process, and know that there are people out there that will help you and be with you."
Ferrell and a group of friends attended Martin's funeral on Wednesday. Ferrell started a GoFundMe page in her honor that had raised more than $30,000 as of Thursday night.
Ferrell originally asked for $5,000 to help the family with funeral expenses, but the outpouring or support pushed that total higher quickly.
"I had the idea in mind, but I didn't want to overstep (her parents)," Ferrell said. "Some people had reached out and asked if I was going to do it, and (her mom) said to go ahead and do it. We had a lot of support. I don't want to say overwhelming, but it has been tremendous."
She hasn't been surprised.
"Natalie was loved by anyone she came in contact with," Ferrell said.
According to WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, Martin was found dead in a hotel room on June 7 after the Horry County Police Department determined she was strangled to death. A man in the case, 18-year-old Blake William Linkous, of Blue Rock, was arrested one day later and has been charged with murder.
Linkous and Martin attended the senior prom together as friends, Ferrell said.
"There were a lot of people in a house they were in, like six or seven," Ferrell said. "I don't think anyone will ever know what really happened. I just feel like the family deserves to know."
Franklin Local had counselors on hand for students in the days that followed. Ferrell called the last week "a roller coaster."
"It comes in waves," Ferrell said. "One day you are angry and the next you are broken hearted. There are really no words for what happened."
She was glad to spend time with friends on Wednesday.
"They all feel so many different ways," Ferrell said. "I talked to some that are really angry and talk to some who said it still hasn't hit them. We all came together, 11 of us after the funeral and went to Longhorn (Steakhouse) and sat and were with each other. We tried to take our minds off of it."
She recalled Martin as a vibrant personality and a classic prankster.
"She was like no other," Ferrell said. "She was very caring and she knew she had support wherever she went. She had a friend no matter where she would go."
sblackbu@gannett.com; Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Vigil remembers Philo High School grad Natalie Martin
