Remembering Jessica Lloyd

Posted By W. Brice McVicar
Updated February 10th, 2010

Those who knew 27-year-old Jessica Lloyd best have chosen to mourn her death silently in accordance with her family's wishes, declining interview requests and offering little insight into the murder victim's life.

Lloyd, whose body was discovered Monday off Cary Road near Tweed, worked as a transportation planner for the Tri-Board Transportation Services in Napanee. She was reported missing Jan. 29 when she failed to show up for work.

Steve Wowk, manager at Tri-Board, did not want to comment on Lloyd's death.

"Our thoughts are with the family," he said. "Everyone's going through a hard time right now and we really don't want to make a comment at this point."

A friend of Lloyd made a similar comment, noting a group of women who knew her had talked Monday evening and agreed, "out of respect" for Lloyd's family, they "wouldn't talk to the media."

Lloyd's family had requested, through a statement read by Belleville police Chief Cory McMullan at a press conference Monday, to have their privacy respected. That statement, however, did acknowledge the week leading up to the discovery of Lloyd's body and the subsequent arrest of Col. Russ Williams.

"Thanks to everyone who helped search for Jessica and to those who created and printed the banners, posters and flyers and to all family and friends who distributed them," McMullan read. "Thanks to the many companies who assisted in making sure Jessica's picture was everywhere."

And it was everywhere.

Lloyd's image was common throughout the Quinte region due to those posters, flyers and vehicle decals which were distributed throughout the area. Representatives from some of the companies who helped create them, and raise awareness about Lloyd's disappearance, said their efforts were done with the hope of seeing Lloyd return home.

"We all hoped that she'd be home safely," said Judy Bleekman, the payroll clerk for LMB Transport.

LMB Transport used its trucks to spread the word about Lloyd's disappearance by placing large decals featuring the missing person poster on a number of their trucks.

Bleekman said the use of their vehicles seemed natural as the whole community was following the case.

"We all live so close by and we're all from the same community," she said.

Andrew Martin, manager for Signs Unlimited, shared the same view. The Tyendinaga Territory company printed "hundreds" of vehicle decals and three large banners which were placed along Highway 401.

Martin said the company offered its services because Lloyd's disappearance took place "in our community."

2 Xtreme Graphics also played a vital role in the search for Lloyd with hundreds of hours dedicated to printing decals. Within a week, the local company produced approximately 12,000 vehicle decals.

Percy Watson, the company's manager, said owner Shannon Hannah decided to create the decals.

"She happened to know the family and came up with the idea. We started printing on Monday and continued right on through to Friday," he said. "We did well over 12,000 decals and we printed over 200 of the tractor trailer decals."

Watson said the outcome certainly was not what the community had been hoping for, though he hopes the efforts of his company and the entire community was an asset.

"It's really unfortunate," he said. "We did what we could and, hopefully, it did help. Our hearts certainly go out to her family."

Funeral arrangements for Lloyd are being handled by John R. Bush Funeral Home and visitation for family and friends will be Friday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Service will be in the chapel Saturday at 1 p.m.

Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.

bmcvicar@intelligencer.ca