Pagan Quilters Present Mother With Work of Love The members of The Quilters' Coven really know how to weave -er- stitch up some powerful magick. On Sunday, June 24th, Megan Spangler presented to Denessa Smith the patchwork quilt dedicated to the memory of her daughter, Tempest. Tempest would have loved the quilt, her mother said. She loved to sew and one of the things that Tempest was most proud of was a quilt that she and her mom had worked on together. A journal diary found under Tempest's bed describes the sad and haunting tale of a young girl's unbearable torment at the hands of her peers. Teased since elementary school, the situation had grown even worse when her classmates discovered that Tempest was reading books on Wicca. Taunts of "Jesus loves you.." and much, much worse followed her wherever she went. So Tempest decided one morning to go to the one place where she believed that the taunts could not follow her. Tempest, aged 12, was found hanging from the post of her bunk bed last February 20th. She had taken her own life. When George Hunter of The Detroit News broke the story, the Pagan community embraced, not only Tempest, but also her mother as our own. (See: "Hidden Hatred Haunts Pagans" for details and the original TWV coverage of the story as well as Lhiannon's inspirational piece "Words in a Tempest ".) Letters and emails of support soon were on their way to Denessa. But The Quilters' Coven wanted to do something more -something special and personal and lasting- and so they began to make squares for a memorial quilt. Denessa told TWV of her emotions when the quilt was at last placed into her hands: "I was overcome with emotions when I wrapped the quilt around me - to feel this against me is beyond words. I am told it was made by The Quilters' Coven- they even made a matching pillow for my 10 year old son." "This beautiful gift now hangs on the very wall Tempest stared at for the last time - as if to render this wall nonexistent." Despair has also become non-existent for many of the recipients of Tempest Smith's donated organs. "I have received letters from the recipients of Tempest's organs", said Denessa. "Her pancreas and liver were transplanted at the same hospital and the two men ended up in the same room for recovery at the same time. They now each live a symptom- free existence and consider themselves blood brothers. I have all hope that each of her donated organs will continue to bring forth vitality and optimism." According to the follow-up article by George Hunter (The Detroit News) dated July 4, 2001, attorneys for Denessa Smith have filed a 10-million dollar lawsuit "against the Lincoln Park School District, claiming school administrators turned a blind eye to students who teased the girl about her religious beliefs." "The lawsuit," Hunter writes, " filed in federal court Tuesday, also charges the school district with religious discrimination." It won't bring her daughter back, reflects Denessa, but perhaps the case might result in more administrative responsibility in such incidents, the formation of diversity tolerance programs in the public schools and help to raise awareness of the real pain that teasing and taunting can inflict on children. She doesn't want another mother to suffer the pain and loss that she has experienced. Denessa keeps Tempest close to her during these often-difficult times. Around her neck she wears Tempest's pentacle and a small vial holding some of her daughter's ashes. And now, thanks to the talented and compassionate members of The Quilters' Coven, she has yet another memory of her daughter to treasure. When she feels sad, Denessa can wrap the patchwork quilt around her. "I draw on its strength," she notes, "for this is one of great power." And she believes that in every stitch, in every memory and in every act of kindness, the spirit of Tempest lives on. Note: Letters and cards of encouragement or support can be sent to: Denessa Smith, 1573 LeBlanc St., Lincoln Park, MI 48146 or you can e-mail Denessa at: (denessa1965@msn.com