Archive for the ‘Homewood Alabama’ Category

Remembrance for Nadi

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Best Friends

Hello everyone,

What a wonderful remembrance there was for Nadia in celebration of her life.  As most of you know she disappeared three years ago on November 3, 2008. The remembrance was held at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on November 5th with the coming together of about 50 of Nadia’s family, friends and supporters.  We were so blessed to have Nadia’s closest friend Jacquie join us.  She shared some of the most touching words about her…it warmed our hearts and left us teary eyed.  The photo is of her and Nadi at school.  Jacquie and Nadi graduated high school together and remained close until Nadia disappeared.  Nadi is blessed to have such a dedicated and loving friend.  Thank you all for coming, especially those close to her.  Nadi would’ve been very touched.

On Veteran’s Day (November 11th) the military customarily holds a ceremony setting a table, an empty place for missing veterans, those missing in action and those who have died, reminding us of their great sacrifice so we can have the freedoms we possess in this country.  As we watched the ceremony we’re reminded once again of Nadi and her son.  This year as in the past three we set our Thanksgiving table and leave two places empty in their absense and honor.  

We ask you all not to forget our daughter Nadi and her son.  We ask you to lift them up in prayer.  We pray for the darkness to be lifted, we ask for protection and safety and we ask for the courage to more forward.  Our pastor reminds us that “courage is an aspect of hope we don’t often dwell on.  We think of the possibilities of hope, the desired outcome of hope, even the distractions of hope that are often a diversion in the midst of diffcult moments.  Courage…is vital to hope, for it sustains the dream when all else fails and empowers meaningful action when settling for so much less would be much easier.”  I believe as Christians we’re called to come together in this effort of intersessionary prayer.  We especially ask you to devote a special time for our daughter and grandson until they can come home to us.  

In His loving Grace,

Nancy

Third Anniversary

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Hello everyone,

Today marks the third anniversary of our daughter Nadia’s disappearance.  May the Lord bless and keep her.  May He shine His face upon her and give her Peace.  We love and miss her so very much!

This Saturday family and friends will gather at 12:00pm in Birmingham, Alabama for a remembrance and a celebration of Nadia’s life.  Her friends and family friends are traveling from out of state to be here.  We look forward to sharing stories and beautiful moments of Nadia’s life with each other through good food, fellowship, pictures and music.  For those of you who are unable to come we ask you to lift Nadia up in prayer at noon and remember her as someone who loved life but  still remains missing.

It has been three years since Nadi went missing.  If anyone has information about where she is or maybe has heard rumor about where she may be, please contact us through this website or contact her search team, Central Alabama Search and Rescue at (205) 915-8936. 

Thank you all so very much for your continued support and prayers.

In His Love,

Nancy for all of Nadia’s family who love her very much

Looking for Answers

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Mother & Daughter

Hello everyone,

Our daughter Nadia Kersh vanished after she left work for lunch on Monday, 3 November 2008.  We miss her so very much!!!

Nadie where are you? Nad?  I ask myself that question each and everyday as an eternal emptiness surrounds me reminding me she is not here.  I turn to her son who will be four soon and want to tell him about what has happened to his mama but I don’t know that answer.  Nadia’s brother John frequently asks Kevin and I about the searches for his sister and whether the volunteer searchers have found any sign of his beloved sister as he continues to struggle with her disappearance.  With grief and heartache we continue to look for answers about what happened to Nadie and where she is.

The accumulation of persistent torrential rains of last weekend and the week before have delayed a search for Nadie this weekend, although others (not dependent upon the weather) will continue as planned.  We are extremely grateful not only for the search and rescue crews but also private/commercial property owners who have given us access to their land, loaned us equipment and personnel in our search for her.  This great outpour of generosity from empathetic people and blessed more who have given of themselves over time is overwhelming to take in all at once and has often brought me to my knees in thanks to our Lord for putting them in our path in hopes of finding our loving daughter Nadia.

Nadie where are you?  Mom is here.  Your pop, John, Charlie and I are here.  Your little man is waiting for his mommy…he’s waiting for you.  We’re all here waiting for you to come home.

On behalf of our family I ask people of the Birmingham, Alabama area again to please come forward if you have any information about our daughter Nadia’s whereabouts.  You can reach us directly through this website, contact Central Alabama Search and Rescue at 205 915 8936 or Homewood Police Department at 205 332 6262

Someone called Homewood Police Department many months ago with a “credible lead”.  I believe you know who you are.  Please, please call once again and leave that information again and any additional information you feel comfortable sharing to help us understand what happened to Nadie and/or where she can be found.  Now is your time to step out of the darkness and shed light on Nadia’s missing person case.  Take hold of courage and come forward.  It will all be okay.

For anyone else who has any information about Nadia’s whereabouts please let us know.  We very desperately want to find her and bring her home.

Thank you all for your prayers as we continue on our search.

Blessings to you all,

Nancy

Murder Charges Dismissed

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Hello everyone,

Capital murder charges against Joacquas Haywood, suspect in our daughter Nadia’s disappearance, were dismissed today.  He has been released from the Birmingham, Alabama jail.

Two weeks ago the judge in Nadia’s case denied the assistant district attorney’s (DA’s) request for a continuance of Mr. Haywood’s murder trial scheduled to begin 19 September 2011.  As I understand, the DA’s request was based upon DNA analysis test reports not yet received from the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.  The DA considers these reports to be important to the case and did not want to proceed without the FBI lab findings. A second request for continuance was denied today.  The DA then requested charges against Mr Haywood be dismissed.  This request was granted.

We support the DA’s decision to request charges against Mr Haywood be dismissed as we wait for the DNA lab reports.  This move by no means indicates a final chapter in the case.  As we understand, once the results of the DNA tests are in the DA will revisit options and then make a determination of what course of action they will take.

During this time of waiting we ask people of the Homewood/Birmingham, Alabama community to come forward with information about the whereabouts of our daughter Nadia.  We have been searching for her for almost three years and desperately want to find her.  Please feel free to contact us at this website or call the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office and ask to speak with the assistant DA assigned to Nadia Kersh’s case if you have any information.

As her family we will continue to pursue leads in an attempt to find her.  A number of search crews will be out this Saturday and Sunday once again looking in several newly identified areas in hopes of locating her.  New equipment has been brought in to assist them.  Central Alabama Search and Rescue (formerly Walker County Search and Rescue) is the lead team in the search for Nadia.  They recently spoke about how they do what they do at a Victims of Crime and Leniency meeting in Jefferson County in Alabama (click on link). http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/aug/18/ker-ar-2293944/

Thank you all for your continued interest in Nadia’s case.  We appreciate your emails and words of encouragement.

His Blessings to you,

Nancy for all

We Continue in Faith

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Hello all,

This month is Nadia’s birthday.  She will turn 26 years old on Monday, 18 July 2011.  I’ve asked folks to submit comments about her and how she may have impacted their lives to this website or the Alabama Walker County Rescue Squad’s Facebook site: Nadia Kersh – The Search Continues Until She is Home.  I will post comments on this site as a tribute to Nadia on her birthday (18 July 2011). 

As some of you may know we have stepped up our efforts trying to find Nadia.  The search and rescue team members have been a true inspiration in the search by continuing to donate time and resources as they pursue their calling to find our daughter.

We also continue to press forward to do what we can to bring our grandson (Nadia’s son) home.  It has been a long and tedious effort working through issues in a complicated legal system.  We have worked this issue since his mom (Nadia) disappeared, two years and eight months ago.

Thank you all once again.  We are blessed to have you support us along this journey.  May the Lord bless and Keep you.

In His Name,

Nancy for all

Faithfulness

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Hello everyone,

  Our pastor reminded us Memorial Day was a day set aside not to forget the indebtedness we owe those who have selflessly served in some way for the benefit of others.  It’s good to pause and reflect, to ponder and remember the faithfulness of others. 

The search for our daughter Nadia has resumed with countless faithful professional volunteers dedicated to find her.  We are extremely grateful for them as we continue to eliminate areas of interest in our efforts to find her and bring her home.

As followers of Christ and believers in Him, we remember that faith compels us to action, belief leads us to involvement, for there we learn the wonderous lessons of love.  In His love we all move forward in our search for Nadia and in our quest to bring her son home to us. 

Thank you all who have stood by us in faith, love and hope. 

In Christ,

Nancy for all

Candlelight Vigil for Those Whose Lives Have Been Cut Short

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Hello everyone,

As the past two weeks have unfolded we have faced more days of delays in the complicated Alabama system.  The process is not one to be rushed.  The Lord reminds us and tells us to be still and wait for Him. And so we will.  May His Grace and Mercy blanket our journey through this process, may it protect our grandson (our daughter, Nadia’s son) as we move forward in our efforts to bring him home.

Thursday evening, 14 April 2011 the Jefferson County chapter of Victims of Crime and Leniency held it’s annual Candlelight Vigil honoring victims and families affected by crime.  Our daughter, Nadia was featured as a missing person as well as hundreds of others who have fallen victim to violent crime.  Hundreds of people were in attendance mourning and honoring those whose lives were tragically cut short.  As your father and I looked upon your picture yet once again we’re reminded of how much we miss you Nadi!

Thank you all who have stood with us in our travels to find our daughter, Nadia and ensure her little man (our grandson) is well taken care of.  We ask for your thoughts and prayers in the weeks and months to come as we continue on our journey down a road of uncertainty with the Lord by our side.  

Blessings to you all.

In His Name,

Nancy for all  

When a Believing Person Prays

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

The Search

Hello everyone, 

Yesterday, our pastor reminded us James 5:16 says, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.”  I believe in the power of prayer as a connection to the living God that opens doors for God’s will to be done.  I ask everyone to join us in prayer as we continue to search for our daughter, Nadia who disappeared on 3 November 2008.  Professional volunteer search teams have scoured many areas looking for her, eliminating said areas one by one as we draw nearer to where she may be. Above is a picture of where our search efforts have lead us and for now we are focusing on that area in Birmingham, Alabama. 

In addition we continue to strive to bring our grandson (Nadia’s son) home.  The Alabama state process remains complicated but we are committed to seeing it through.

Thank you all for your continued support as we move forward bit by bit, moving in closer and closer to bring closure to the darkness that surrounds the circumstances of Nadia’s disappearance.  We miss her and our grandson so very much.

The Lord’s blessings to you all.  May His will be done.

His blessings,

Nancy for all

A Year of Hope

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Hello everyone,

God’s gift of Christmas makes all the difference in the world in our lives if we invite Him in.  Our daughter, Nadia (who disappeared on 3 Nov 2008) did just that.  Her letters are full of rejoicing and giving thanks to God for blessing her world with His love.  Part of that love for her came in the form of her own son, her son who continues to be separated from his family. 

We mourn our precious Nadia and we mourn our precious grandson (we are prohibited from sharing his name).  We hope this year we will find Nadia and bring her home to rest.  We hope this year we will bring our grandson home to know he is safe and loved.  We hope this year things will be set right with him in the complicated Alabama system.  

We continue to be patient and lift up our sorrows and concerns to the Lord for He is forever sovereign and His Grace and Mercy endure.  We will continue to be patient as we mourn Nadia, her son and her grandpa, who passed three weeks after Nadia disappeared. 

What has happened to our family (daughter missing, separated from our grandbaby) could also happen to you.  We lived out of state at the time of Nadia’s disappearance and we were not told for three days that she had vanished.  Many things happened during those first crucial 36 hours.  Nadia’s story and the story of her son is a horrendous story and one day it may be told so that other families can protect themselves against needless heartache.  

Remember to protect your loved ones, give them a special hug, kiss and tell them how much you love them.  There is much darkness in this world many of us don’t even want to think about, but it’s there.  We need to love each other, look up towards the Lord and hand our fears and worries over to Him as He would want us to.

We hope you all have had a blessed Christmas and wish you a wonderful and peaceful New Year.  

In His amazing love,

Kevin, Nancy, (in her absence) Nadia, John, Charlie and (in his absence) our grandson 

Someone is watching

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

 Coyote

Dearest Nadia,

Since your disappearance on 3 November 2008 we have been searching for you.  Our team of professional volunteers continue to look for you no matter what the weather or geographical conditions.  Our most recent lead brought us to an unusual area; an area searched this past weekend by our team members.  During the search they noticed they were being watched by an unusual presence…a coyote had made himself comfortable as he came to observe the search efforts.  I received the coyote photo the day of the search and felt it noteworthy enough to share with all who read this website.  Nadi, we will not give up looking for you so long as the leads come in my girl!! Love you, Mom

If someone reading this knows any information about Nadia’s whereabouts, please contact us through this website or contact the Homewood P.D. at (205) 332-6262.  We take all leads seriously so please do not hesitate to call or contact us.

In Christ,

Nancy for all