Mollie (McCann) Hudson and Jessica (Hogg) Ellington have been friends since they were in honor choir together in elementary school 25 years ago. So when tragedy struck Ellington and her family last week, it is little surprise that Hudson stepped up to help her longtime friend.
“Since graduating high school together in 2002 from PBHS, we have remained in touch through the power of social media,” Hudson said. “I believe it is our bond in our faith in Christ that has brought this endeavor upon me now.”
Ellington’s husband, Matt and their two children, Evangeline and Lincoln, were killed in an accident last Thursday when the vehicle they were traveling in collided with a garbage truck. The accident happened in their hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. Matt was taking Evangeline to school when the accident took place.
Matt died in the accident, while Evangeline died later that day and Lincoln died the next day. Ellington buried her husband and children on Monday in Mississippi.
To help her longtime friend in her time of great loss, Hudson is selling prints of a graphite drawing that she completed over the weekend.
“The fundraiser entails selling limited edition giclee art prints of a graphite drawing I completed over the weekend that was inspired by (Jessica’s) experience last week,” Hudson said. “All proceeds of the sale of the prints will be donated directly to Jessica. The prints are of archival quality using the best inks available.”
The print is titled “Despair” and Hudson is selling prints of it for $100 on her website, molliehudsonart.com.
“This kind of tragedy is unimaginable for anyone to understand other than we live in a broken world,” Hudson said. “It’s the feeling of helplessness that I think a lot of those who know her and even many who don’t, but had heard what had occurred, felt last Thursday. Our task was to pray, and still is to pray for our sister in Christ and for the rest of the friends and family of Matt, Evangeline and Lincoln Ellington.”
Hudson said she went to her pencil and paper after the accident to support her friend
“It was the only thing I could physically do to support her, pray and draw,” Hudson said. “About 36 hours later, I had completed the piece, which I named ‘Despair,’ even before completing the composition. The piece features a feminine figure, hands clasped in despair yet out of reach of a crow flying above carrying three poppy flowers, one fully bloomed, and two smaller budding poppies representing Jessica’s husband and two sweet babies. I learned that the crow can symbolize fearlessness and the poppy flower of course is a symbol of remembrance, but also of beauty and even peace in death.”
Hudson said that the piece personifies Isaiah 41:10 from the Old Testament.
“This is something I know Jessica has said through a Facebook post, it is a verse that is where she has found great refuge,” Hudson said. “‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’”
Hudson is hopeful that she can help her friend financially in her time of loss.
“With this unexpected tragedy, the last thing anyone needs to worry about is the financial impact,” Hudson said. “In Galatians 6:2, it says ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ I believe that this piece wasn’t given to me to profit from, but to be able to try to carry a little bit of the burden for this family.”
A complete obituary for Matt, Evangeline and Lincoln Ellington appeared in the Tuesday edition of the Daily American Republic.
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