Silent memorial and candelight vigil held for Alex King and Tatianna Diz

Photo from Diz's Facebook page

Update: The memorial for Uhon Trumanna Johnson, Alexandra King and Tatianna Diz has changed dates from Friday to Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m.

Original plans called for a lantern-release, but organizers ran into issues with fire safety concerns — and instead decided to bring flowers to Carrier Park (rather than the bridge) and send them floating down the river.

“This is a community memorial for Uhon Trumanna Johnson, Alexandra King and Tatianna Diz: three of our own who were taken by violence,” reads the memorial’s Facebook page. “We will gather to honor them, their families and our community. Flowers that you bring will be placed into the river at 1 p.m., so come a little bit early to participate. Can you be there to place a bouquet or a wreath? The entire community is invited. We will send these three souls on to their next journey with our love. Bring your healing hearts.”

The event page has been updated to reflect the new time, date and plan.


 

In the coming weeks, as Ashevilleans mourn the loss of two missing women found this week in the French Broad, two vigils are planned in remembrance of Alexandra King, 22, and Tatianna Diz, 20.

The first of the two known vigils is tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. at the apartment complex where the women lived.

“Let’s gather as a community to shine some light for Alex and Tati,” reads the Facebook event page. “We will gather at 6 p.m. this Sunday evening in their neighborhood to light candles, hold vigil and to provide a community forum. Please bring candles, fire and your healing energy. We will send it out to Alex and Tati.”

The vigil will be held at the Canterbury Heights apartments in Northwest Asheville, on Westbrook Drive, between buildings U and W.

“We as a community — we are all one!” reads the memorial page. Nonresident parking is in the lot across from the complex’s visitor center and office.

The second of two memorials will be held on Sunday, Nov. 22 and will also honor the life of Uhon Trumanna Johnson, 31, who was shot and killed at his home in a possibly related incident the same evening.

“We would like to invite you to attend a silent memorial event dedicated to our lost girls,” reads the invitation sent by Nicky White. “We will be launching 50 floating lanterns into the sky at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, at the Craven Street bridge. Please come. Bring a candle. Be a part of honoring these girls, their families and our strength as a community. We will come together in the face of this violent tragedy. We will send our flames to the heavens for them.”

For more on this event, click here.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Hayley Benton
Current freelance journalist and artist. Former culture/entertainment reporter at the Asheville Citizen-Times and former news reporter at Mountain Xpress. Also a coffee drinker, bad photographer, teller of stupid jokes and maker-upper of words. I can be reached at hayleyebenton [at] gmail.com. Follow me @HayleyTweeet

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

13 thoughts on “Silent memorial and candelight vigil held for Alex King and Tatianna Diz

  1. OneWhoKnows

    oh my … so what kind of drugs were they so addicted to ? I thought they were good peeps with no problems, except maybe with earrings.

    I’m thinking they had some cash on them that pierre decided he wanted, or were the murders after the drug buy ? was it crack
    or what ? I don’t think blacks mess with meth much, do they ? Not sure I’ve ever noticed a black meth head.

    • Katie

      What is wrong with you people, two human beings are dead. That’s it. And it wasn’t crack you ahole. These two were very wonderful people. What gives you all the right to preach? Your sins aren’t any better than anyone else’s

        • Lulz

          LOL, since when did posting reality get one labeled a troll lulz? Saying Obamacare is good is being a troll. Claiming that 20 trillion in debt is no big deal when in reality it’s actually 65 trillion with unfunded liabilities is being a troll lulz. Telling the truth that a person who is living off the system and putting even more debt onto others while spitting in the face of the taxpayers who fund him while not doing his best to succeed and get off of that same system and being labeled a troll LOL, is in fact being a troll.

      • Robin

        Actually, three people are dead. While I mourn for these women and their families, I hope we all consider that another life was lost – another human, a father and someone whose family is experiencing as much loss as the women’s families.

        I hope we all pray for all three deceased and consider why there is a lack of attention to a black male.

        • Lulz

          LOL, who contributed exactly what to society lulz? Why is it in bizzaro USA, those who are selfish and use up others, do harm to others, and are actually bad people are empathized and celebrated LOL? Lack of attention to a black male lulz? Seems to me that some black males are in a category of their own doing LOL. And others are judging them and rightfully so. I feel no sympathy for those that live in section 8, sell drugs, have a free education to learn, throw it all away, then blame some phony white establishment as keeping them down when in all reality trillions have been spend over decades to prop them up LOL. And that was money taken from …………. LOL.

          • Breeze

            Lulz…. You sound like a true moron. You have NO idea what you are talking about. You didn’t know Mr. Johnson, you don’t know what he did or didn’t contribute to society. There is a HUGE lack of attention to black males and it is a HUGE problem in America. His life was worth just as much as the two women that Griffin killed. You are an insensitive douche to make those kinds of comments on a thread like this.

  2. Guy

    Why isn’t the media pointing out the connection between all of these people; surely an investigation has concluded this; perhaps for a fair trial? I wonder how much mourning Ashevilleans would be doing or what suspicions would they conclude if it were two black guys who allegedly got whacked by their “murder suspect” acquaintance.

    • Lulz

      LOL, it won’t fit the narrative of feminist first and foremost Asheville lulz. Remember, this is bizarro land where women are lied to and coddled by the system in order to gain their support lulz. The system is set up to prevent women from having to pay for their decisions as much as possible lulz. But that’s only of everyone plays by the rules LOL. And when harm comes to them, it’s never their own fault LOL. But as much as the media and culture at large won’t admit it, women do have a part in how they end up lulz.

  3. Yep

    hey Breeze, LULZ makes several valid points… and right, WHERE are the accolades for the black male victim? what was HIS involvement? I would say none of the deceased were outstanding citizens according to behavior … as sweet as they may have been.

  4. c

    wow, yep and lulz, nice high jack. I think the westboro baptist church is looking for members.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.