By Brady Dennis Praveena Somasundaram
She had spent her entire life at the camp, which was her family’s business. She climbed from junior counsellor to counsellor before becoming director about 25 years ago. The camp was in between sessions this week.
Jack Haberer, retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville, said Ragsdale served on the board of elders, focusing on missions, and sang in the church choir.
“She was the one that lit up the room when she walked in. An effervescent personality,” Haberer said. “Always a positive word, an encouraging word – always building people up.”
Inside Ragsdale’s church on Sunday morning, the service began with “Hymns of Comfort” and a long silence. The readings included Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” The pastor giving the children’s message told the young faces before her, “It’s okay to be angry about what’s happened. It’s okay to be really scared. It’s okay to be terribly sad.”
The Reverend Jasiel Hernandez Garcia said he, too, had struggled to find the right words amid such ongoing tragedy.
“We lost extraordinary people, like our beloved Jane Ragsdale … Our hearts ache for all the children and people who have not been found as of this morning,” Garcia said. “Our hearts ache for all the damage done to our community. Our hearts ache because we love.”