Bombing Victim Buried Hundreds Mourn Airman
05-07-1995 Times Picayune

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Lakesha R. Levy was buried with full military honors Saturday in
New Orleans, as hundreds came to mourn the servicewoman killed
in the terrorist bombing of the federal office building in
Oklahoma City last month.

Wearing large buttons with a picture of Levy and the words,
"Dearly Missed: Lakesha," the mourners filled the Greater St.
Stephen Baptist Church in eastern New Orleans.

Levy's body was found April 28 in what was left of the Alfred P.
Murrah Federal Building, nine days after it was bombed. The 22-
year-old New Orleans native, stationed by the Air Force in
Oklahoma, went there to get a copy of her Social Security card.

During the funeral and interment at Mount Olivet cemetery, many
mourners were overcome. At one point, a sobbing woman rushed a
portrait of Levy on an easel by the casket, and had to be
carried from the church, wailing, on the shoulders of relatives.

Among those struggling to keep their emotions in check was Corey
Levy, 23, Lakesha's husband. Since his wife died in the April 19
blast, Corey has kept a tight hold on his composure, setting an
example other family members, including the couple's 2-year-old
son, Corey II, tried to emulate.

But Corey's father, Herman Levy of New Orleans, said the funeral
might overwhelm his son, and halfway through the ceremony that
prediction proved true. Corey bolted from his seat in the front
row and approached Lakesha's casket. After a couple of steps, he
fainted, and as he crumpled, relatives swarmed around him and
carried him back to his pew.

"I'm just not ready for her to leave," he said later.

Levy was on duty when she died. She was given a 21-gun salute as
an honor guard folded the flag draped on her coffin. That flag
was handed to Corey, while other flags were presented to
Lakesha's parents, Constance Favorite and Michael Richardson of
New Orleans.

The gunshots startled several small children, and their sobs
mingled with those of relatives gathered under a small tent.

"Take your rest, soldier," family friend Tyrone Green said.
"We'll meet you on the other side."

The violent tragedy that claimed Levy's life was rarely
mentioned, but there were signs everywhere indicating her
departure had been far from ordinary. Air Force personnel from
Panama, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Oklahoma attended the
ceremonies, and a half-dozen local ministers addressed the
crowd.

Family members said they were not surprised by the turnout,
given Levy's famous sense of humor, which even Air Force
teachers mentioned. But they said the avalanche of attention
from well-wishers has made a difference.

"We want to thank the city of New Orleans and everyone else who
has offered us their sympathy and condolences these last few
days," said Karen Johnson, Levy's aunt.

The Levys say they now are focused on rebuilding. Corey and his
son have moved back to New Orleans, and Herman Levy said their
healing has begun. Yet most of them remain too distraught by
their loss to even discuss it.

"I just hope Lakesha is at peace now," Herman said.