Reflections

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Jeff and Maria

These are some of the thoughts and remembrance of Jeff that I got in the cards and letters after his death.

Rarely in my life has such sadness filled my heart. All day I've been thinking of Jeff and all the memories I have of him. He was my friend and I'm going to miss seeing him and hearing his laugh. There are givers and takers in this world. Jeff was a giver. He always made time to help people and he was always true to his friends. I don't know why bad things happen to good people. I don't understand why Jeff spent those years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Jeff's life had value and I will always cherish the friendship Jeff and I had. I'm proud he was my friend. Jeff told me many times how much he loved you Shirley and his little girl. Jeff faced a lot of hardships in his life but he was blessed to have you for his mother. He knew he was blessed to have you too. I'm sure Jeff is in heaven now because he made peace with the Lord. He wouldn't come back even if he could cause his suffering is over and he is with Jesus. Shirley, wherever you go or whatever you do, I'll never forget you or Jeff.
May God bless and keep you,
Nick Sutton

 


Jeff's absence will be hard to take. Of ALL the prisoners on death row Jeff was the one most invaluable to us. Jeff did more than any inmate to raise the quality of life for those of us awaiting execution. I'm not exaggerating Jeff's support multitude of activities we had were courteous of Jeff Dicks advocacy. I'm sure you were the power behind the thrown so to speak, and this is bad news that Jeff is gone. We have lost our premier advocate...there is no one else in here who can command the skills assets, abilities and resources that Jeff could. Jeff would stand up to the prison officials about us. Most inmates won't do that and those that would, the prison officials would find some way to neutralize them. But they could not touch Jeff.

Jeff was essentially immune from whatever pressure or tactic for one reason or another. For example the guards couldn't retaliate when Jeff's advocacy displeased them because you would quickly discover it. You and Jeff were quite a team. I remain in your service Richard Taylor

 



God blessed us all with you and Jeff for all these years and gave us the gift of friendship and loyalty to survive this weary path. We know Jeff is looking down on us all and giving us the strength and courage to make it thought another day. That was his way of life and he taught us to to follow his lead. We will forever miss our friend and brother....Ron Cauthern

May God be with you Shirley and your family...may God speed Jeff to the light and enter him into Heaven. I know there will be a bright star in the Heaven's tonight. My heart is sad, Jeff was my dear friend. May God be with you Shirley and your family...may God speed Jeff to the light and enter him into Heaven. I know there will be a bright star in the Heaven's tonight. My heart is sad, Jeff was my dear friend. God help us to deal with this terrible loss... Rest in peace our angel...
Richard Austin



Jeff was my friend, my brother for over half his lifetime. Your tragedy is truly mine.
Jeff will never be forgotten......Tim Morris

When I think of Jeff, I saw a man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I saw a man who was warm and friendly toward everyone. I saw a man that always seemed to have a good word to say, who really cared about people. I saw a man of outstanding character and devotion, a man of high intellect with the ability to use it to help others.

But out of the wonderful qualities that I saw, the thing which haunts my closing thoughts is that I saw a man in great pain, a man almost beyond the point of frustration at the distorted methods and perverse concepts of a legal system gone mad. And even now, I ask myself the question, where is this man's fault?

What could one such as him could possibly done to join us here in the brotherhood of the doomed? But he gave me hope. Michael Bush Tn Death Row


We in Canada are very sad over the death of your son Jeff in the Tennessee Death Row Prison. I send you my heart felt condolesences and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am a member of CCADP - Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty. We are very disappointed in the American Justice System and very sad at the state of affairs in the prisons in America.

To show these people the wrong they have done, you should sue them. Jeff is now with the Lord and not suffering anymore and someday you will see him again. I believe 100% in his innocence and I have viewed his web site quite often. The one thing I am glad of is that he is no longer in their hands to abuse and ridicule. What I have read of him gives me great respect for him and you.


"Free At Last"
By Brenda Thomas

"God saw that you were tired, So He took you by the hand And said, " Son its time to rest now" Here in the promised land. You spent your life on earth, Helping those in need.
You taught them its ok to pray. You taught them to believe. You didn't let the prison walls, Make you a bitter man. You always thought of others, You lent a helping hand.
They couldn't break your spirit, Although they often tried. You fought for what you believed in, So others wouldn't be denied.

God chose a job for you, That most men did not want. Your compassion let you reach the men, That the rest of the world forgot. You gave them hope and kindness. You gave them strength and peace. And without you to guide them, many would not see. But now its time for you to rest, You've earned your wings, my Son. Your loved ones will join us Here, When their time on earth is done."

Jeff will live in our hearts forever. His kind and thoughtful ways, his compassion for others, his golden heart that put others first regardless of his own needs, will never be forgotten. I am proud of the way he handled life and the obstacles that were put in his way. He didn't become bitter or cold, he made the most of what life had dealt him. I have always been proud of you Jeff. Now it's time for you to rest. Love Always, Aunt Bren


I can only be proud to have had such a wonderful Brother. Reading these testimonies from the so called, worst of the worst. Societies out casts and hardened death row prisoners. I know Jeff was not only a wonderful Brother to me but to all you guys on the row.

Your words convey a deep love, admiration and a tremendous loss that we will not soon recover from. Jeff sent this to me a long time ago and I just can't help but feel he wants me to pass it on to the brothers he left behind on TN death row. "Why God Created Brothers"
"When God created Brothers, He made close friends to share. Our secret hopes and dreams and the burdens that we bear. When God created Brothers, he made warm hearts to care. With gentle understanding and an insight that is rare. When God created Brothers
he answered every prayer. That asks for someone special who's love is always there!"
"Thanks for being A Terrific Brother!"

Thank you Jeff. You are always in my thoughts and forever in my heart. Fly Free Bird Fly, Always and Forever... Your little Brother, Trevor

* Trevor was killed June 7th, 2005 due to a one car accident in NH. www.trevordicks.com