Meadville Lombard community in mourning over
the death of Cornelius Lockhart

July 5, 2007

The Meadville Lombard Theological School community is stunned and saddened by the murder of Cornelius Lockhart, who served as the maintenance assistant for the school since June 2006. 

Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, President of Meadville Lombard, sent the following out to students, staff, and faculty today, so many of whom were away from school for internships, vacation, and holiday at the time of Cornelius' killing:

I received news of the murder of Meadville Lombard's maintenance assistant, Cornelius Lockhart, late yesterday afternoon as I was driving back to Chicago at the end of a July 4th outing with my family.  Like all of you I am devastated by this news.  Indeed I have not yet fully absorbed it.  Cornelius was a joy to have had on our staff.

Details about this murder are beginning to emerge. Those details are helping me to begin to cope. And, one day, I hope they will help his children, as well. It appears that Cornelius was trying to break up an altercation between others when he was stabbed by one of those he was attempting to calm. That was Cornelius all the way: trying to make a bad situation a little bit better. I guess that it is our work to do, too. It is a violent world and ours is to bring it some peace and harmony. Such acts of goodness can't, and won't, end with the life of Cornelius Lockhart.

Services will take place on Wednesday July 11, at the Burnside Community Church (639 E. 91st Place in Chicago).  Viewing will extend from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  The funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. Meadville Lombard will be closed during this time.

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Contact:
Tina Porter tporter@meadville.edu
(773) 256-3000 ext. 236