NEW YORK – While legions of reporters working for traditional print and broadcast outlets have focused on Alton Nolen, the 30-year-old African-American convert to Islam who allegedly beheaded a female co-worker, it's been left up to family and friends to memorialize Colleen Hufford, age 54 at the time of her death.
So they have created a page on Facebook with the heartfelt message, "Someday I'll see you again."
The photographs and testimonials tell a story of a loving grandmother whose life was cut short just last week at her job at Vaughn Foods, a processing plant in Vaughn, Oklahoma.
Authorities allege Nolen savagely beheaded her in ISIS-fashion before being shot by company COO Mark Vaughn, whose actions prevented Nolen from repeating the attack on another worker, Traci Johnson.
TRENDING: St. Patrick's role on the 'external hard drive'
The photographs show a happy grandmother enjoying her family, including the following image of her, her husband, her daughter, Kelli, and granddaughter, Riley:
Another shows her with her granddaughter in the family driveway:
Another in the family kitchen:
And with dogs and a baby at home:
The Facebook page is being filled with personal memories of Colleen posted by those who knew or met her in happier times.
"I can't imagine what Colleen's family is going through right now having lost a dear mother and grandmother because of a vile ideology," Lisa Tottenham posted. "You are in the prayers of many Australians. I hope Colleen's family is in some way comforted knowing they are in the thoughts and prayers of people worldwide."
"I met Colleen, her daughter, granddaughter, and husband during the OKC Blazer days and the Barons. She was always with a smile on her face, and I had many, many visits at the games with them," Jack Riley posted. "Such a wonderful family. I will definitely miss her at the games. It still seems so unreal that this has happened to such an undeserving person. R.I.P. Colleen, you will be missed by more people than you would imagine!"
Kathy Weppner wrote, "I would like to know why the media is not talking about Colleen. We should all be hearing about her and her family, [who] will no longer see her smile. We see pictures of all of the women that disappear and are victims. Where is their coverage of Colleen?"
The administrator of the Facebook page posted the following warning: "Please remember that this page is to celebrate Colleen. It is not for blame, hatred, or negativity towards any person, group of people, religion, political party, etc. Any posts making derogatory comments about ANYONE are not appreciated and will be removed. If you want to share those thoughts, please do so on a different forum. Thank you."
The administrator of the Facebook page suggested that those who want to donate to the family can do so at the Colleen Hufford Memorial Fund, as well as to Catholic Charities or the Oklahoma University Children's Hospital.