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JSU student, 17, killed in car wreck over weekend

Abstract:
Caitlin Victoria Rebecca Graeff, a 17-year old freshman majoring in biology and minoring in music, was killed this weekend in a single car accident when her car left the road in Cherokee County early Sunday morning, Nov. 26.

Graeff's friends said she was driving on Highway 9 when she made a wrong turn....

Displaying 1 - 9 of 9

Frank Graeff

posted 12/16/06 @ 7:24 AM CST

My heartfelt condolences to Caitlin's family and all who miss her.

I came across her name about 6 weeks ago when searching the web for people who share our daughter's name - Caitlin Louise Graeff was born on October 21st this year. It is with sadness that I now read this article.

Frank & family, Leighton Buzzard, UK

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Rachel Robertson

posted 2/13/07 @ 5:09 PM CST

"Ria" was one of my good friends. We graduated from highschool together. I must express my disappointment in this article. It does her no justice. She was a sweetest, most kind hearted person I have ever known, and a short, hurried article is troubling. In her humility, she would be honored to be mentioned in even a small way like this, but in her memory, I am unimpressed. I wish everyone could have met her and spent five minutes in her company. A simple cup of coffee with her could change your life. She is truly the definition of beauty. She is what we should all strive to be.

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Glenna Grimes

posted 3/15/07 @ 10:46 AM CST

Many of the particulars in this article are incorrect. Caitlin had turned 18 on September 11th of this year. She was a music major. She had been in our church choir in Phoenix since she was 4 years old. She was also a beautiful ballerina. I am honored that JSU named a music scholarship in her memory for this year and the madrigal dinner held on Dec. 1st and 2nd of 2006 were dedicated to her. On November 26th, she was coming home after dropping a friend off and left her house at around 1:15am. She was driving on County Highway 55 in Cleburne County. I enjoyed the section of the article that featured those who knew her.
I do appreciate Rachel's comment that the story doesn't do her justice, but after all, it is supposed to be a factual news story. I also appreciate Frank Graeff's comment. I hope your daughter grows up to be as beautiful, inside and out, as ours is. Words could never express how much she means to me or how much I miss her. Many blogs or comments I have read say that I seem to be doing fine. Caitlin has four brothers that she adores - (I can't help but use present tense)- and I have to be the kind of mom to them that I was to her, but there's an important part of my heart that will be empty until I see her again. Please continue to pray for me. Thank you.

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Kevin Jeffers

posted 3/18/07 @ 5:32 PM CST

Originally posted by
Glenna Grimes
Many of the particulars in this article are incorrect. Caitlin had turned 18 on September 11th of this year. She was a music major. She had been in our church choir in Phoenix since she was 4 years old. She was also a beautiful ballerina. I am honored that JSU named a music scholarship in her memory for this year and the madrigal dinner held on Dec. 1st and 2nd of 2006 were dedicated to her. On November 26th, she was coming home after dropping a friend off and left her house at around 1:15am. She was driving on County Highway 55 in Cleburne County. I enjoyed the section of the article that featured those who knew her.
I do appreciate Rachel's comment that the story doesn't do her justice, but after all, it is supposed to be a factual news story. I also appreciate Frank Graeff's comment. I hope your daughter grows up to be as beautiful, inside and out, as ours is. Words could never express how much she means to me or how much I miss her. Many blogs or comments I have read say that I seem to be doing fine. Caitlin has four brothers that she adores - (I can't help but use present tense)- and I have to be the kind of mom to them that I was to her, but there's an important part of my heart that will be empty until I see her again. Please continue to pray for me. Thank you.

As the former news editor of The Chanticleer when this article ran, I personally apologize for any inaccuracies in our article on Ria. The information we were given was incorrect, but that is no excuse. We should have been more careful and researched her life more thoroughly. If I were still with the publication I would run the necessary retractions and do a follow-up piece, no matter how after-the-fact it may seem. I send my sincerest condolences to Ria's family and friends.

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Nicholas B. Losten

posted 3/31/07 @ 7:15 PM CST

Originally posted by
Glenna Grimes
Many of the particulars in this article are incorrect. Caitlin had turned 18 on September 11th of this year. She was a music major. She had been in our church choir in Phoenix since she was 4 years old. She was also a beautiful ballerina. I am honored that JSU named a music scholarship in her memory for this year and the madrigal dinner held on Dec. 1st and 2nd of 2006 were dedicated to her. On November 26th, she was coming home after dropping a friend off and left her house at around 1:15am. She was driving on County Highway 55 in Cleburne County. I enjoyed the section of the article that featured those who knew her.
I do appreciate Rachel's comment that the story doesn't do her justice, but after all, it is supposed to be a factual news story. I also appreciate Frank Graeff's comment. I hope your daughter grows up to be as beautiful, inside and out, as ours is. Words could never express how much she means to me or how much I miss her. Many blogs or comments I have read say that I seem to be doing fine. Caitlin has four brothers that she adores - (I can't help but use present tense)- and I have to be the kind of mom to them that I was to her, but there's an important part of my heart that will be empty until I see her again. Please continue to pray for me. Thank you.

Glenna, my heart wept the moment I heard. All of the family shares in your great loss. Please get in touch when your world settles a bit. - Nicholas

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Kimberly Hinton

posted 11/16/07 @ 1:18 PM CST

Originally posted by
Glenna Grimes
Many of the particulars in this article are incorrect. Caitlin had turned 18 on September 11th of this year. She was a music major. She had been in our church choir in Phoenix since she was 4 years old. She was also a beautiful ballerina. I am honored that JSU named a music scholarship in her memory for this year and the madrigal dinner held on Dec. 1st and 2nd of 2006 were dedicated to her. On November 26th, she was coming home after dropping a friend off and left her house at around 1:15am. She was driving on County Highway 55 in Cleburne County. I enjoyed the section of the article that featured those who knew her.
I do appreciate Rachel's comment that the story doesn't do her justice, but after all, it is supposed to be a factual news story. I also appreciate Frank Graeff's comment. I hope your daughter grows up to be as beautiful, inside and out, as ours is. Words could never express how much she means to me or how much I miss her. Many blogs or comments I have read say that I seem to be doing fine. Caitlin has four brothers that she adores - (I can't help but use present tense)- and I have to be the kind of mom to them that I was to her, but there's an important part of my heart that will be empty until I see her again. Please continue to pray for me. Thank you.

I am so sorry Glenna please contact me 702-982-7137

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Kimberly Hinton

posted 11/16/07 @ 11:59 AM CST

Caitlin was such a beautiful young lady. No words could ever express how much she meant to me. She used to watch my daughter Aaliyah and she took such great care of her. I have since lost contact within the last 2 years of Glenna. I can't believe this has happened. I send my love and my prayers.

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Deema

posted 11/17/07 @ 8:43 AM CST

Even though, I barely knew Caitlin. I have always felt that I loved her. I was so shocked and sad when I ran into this article. Mrs.Grimes, I hope you remember me. You're always in my prayers.

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Deema Zayed

posted 11/29/07 @ 10:32 AM CST

Even though, I have seen this article about more than 4 times, I still feel the same way. I cannot express how sorry I feel. Mrs Grimes if u remember who I am, plz contact me at deema_curlyswirly@hotmail.com. I was one of your students at the Donoho School. I think of u constantly.

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