Campus remembers fallen police sergeant
Marshall A Latimore
Online Editor
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: Campus News
Police from all over Davidson County mourned the loss of fallen TSU police officer Sgt. Tabatha Koger at an on-campus memorial held Oct. 29 in the Floyd-Payne Campus Center.
As many as 50 university officials, faculty, students and guests gathered for the hour-long ceremony.
The noontime service, presided by Police Chief Sylvia Russell, included an invocation by Sgt. Leslie Jones, who supervises the residence life officers, and reflections by Vice President of Student Affairs Michael A. Freeman.
"(Koger) was my friend," Jones said. "We worked hand-in-hand. She was great--dedicated to her job: a good Christian lady. I will miss her."
Rev. James Duke, chaplain for Metro-Nashville Police Department offered words of comfort.
Diana K. Poe, music department faculty and director of the University Choir, delivered two musical selections.
The university's memorial followed Koger's funeral, which was held Oct. 25 at the Foston Funeral Home in Clarksville.
Faculty and staff were notified via a 2:17 p.m. e-mail expressing condolences from University Communications on Oct. 24.
Koger was the first female sergeant in the department. She passed on Oct. 21.
"The service made me really look at life differently," said Courtney Landers, a junior nursing major from Chattanooga. "(The memorial) encouraged me to apply my time here (on earth)."
Krystal Lurry, a guidance and counseling graduate student from Memphis, shared her memories of Koger and said she wished the memorial was better attended.
"(Koger) was very strong and independent," Lurry said. "(She) didn't take no mess from nobody. More student and faculty should have come."
Russell added, "(Koger) was a wonderful person. We lost a real comrade that day. We will miss her."•
As many as 50 university officials, faculty, students and guests gathered for the hour-long ceremony.
The noontime service, presided by Police Chief Sylvia Russell, included an invocation by Sgt. Leslie Jones, who supervises the residence life officers, and reflections by Vice President of Student Affairs Michael A. Freeman.
"(Koger) was my friend," Jones said. "We worked hand-in-hand. She was great--dedicated to her job: a good Christian lady. I will miss her."
Rev. James Duke, chaplain for Metro-Nashville Police Department offered words of comfort.
Diana K. Poe, music department faculty and director of the University Choir, delivered two musical selections.
The university's memorial followed Koger's funeral, which was held Oct. 25 at the Foston Funeral Home in Clarksville.
Faculty and staff were notified via a 2:17 p.m. e-mail expressing condolences from University Communications on Oct. 24.
Koger was the first female sergeant in the department. She passed on Oct. 21.
"The service made me really look at life differently," said Courtney Landers, a junior nursing major from Chattanooga. "(The memorial) encouraged me to apply my time here (on earth)."
Krystal Lurry, a guidance and counseling graduate student from Memphis, shared her memories of Koger and said she wished the memorial was better attended.
"(Koger) was very strong and independent," Lurry said. "(She) didn't take no mess from nobody. More student and faculty should have come."
Russell added, "(Koger) was a wonderful person. We lost a real comrade that day. We will miss her."•
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