Today is the double funeral service for Billy Moore and his mom, Valerie Martinez. Many of us came to know Billy through the news of his untimely death … shot at the age of 17 … on his way home from visiting his mom at OHSU. She had been battling leukemia and was now on life support. Billy was there to say goodbye. They died on the same night.
To the community of Portland, Billy’s death was eye-opening, heartbreaking and unexplainable all at the same time.
Billy was a recent graduate, and the first Prom King, of Rosemary Anderson High School, an alternative high school in North Portland. According to Joe McFerrin II, the President of RAHS, Billy enrolled in RAHS in the fall of 2008 and although he struggled his first few months, the longer he stayed, the more he bought into the program and the more he brought to it.
He was working in an RAHS-sponsored internship with the Salvation Army where he was learning valuable work skills while earning money to help his family and he planned to attend Portland Community College in the Fall.
Billy Moore is an RAHS success story. He is our community’s success story. This big-hearted boy was finding his way … and thankful for his life and those that took an interest in him. He felt blessed. The 16-year-old that shot him … the 16-year-old whose life has changed forever … was traveling down a different path. He made choices that Billy could have easily made. But Billy didn’t.
It’s an interesting contrast. Two boys coming to a fork in the road and choosing alternate paths. Billy had guidance when he came to the fork. From his faith. From his family. From RAHS. Any one of these things may have made a difference in the life of the boy who shot Billy. And for that, I hope we continue to use our voices to advocate for our youth and the safety of our community, pool our resources to support vital programs …… position ourselves at the forks in the road.
My Spot in the World 