TaJanay Bailey Funeral Today

From the Indianapolis Star, we have this sad note: 

“Funeral services for TaJanay Bailey, the toddler who police say died of abuse at the hands of her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, is today.

Calling is scheduled for 10 a.m., and the funeral is at noon at Eastside Baptist Church, 2845 Baltimore Ave.

The girl died Nov. 27. Funeral arrangements were made by Watt Bailey, the child’s grandfather. His daughter, Charity Bailey, 20, is jailed on murder and neglect charges and will not be able to attend the service. Also charged in the case is Lawrence Green, 20, Charity Bailey’s boyfriend.

The Rev. Jimmy Bailey, Watt Bailey’s uncle and pastor at Pioneer Missionary Baptist Church, will give the eulogy.

Bailey ordered pink and white flowers for the funeral and asked that the congregation sing “Amazing Grace” and “Jesus Loves Me.”

The grandfather said this week he wanted a dignified service, and he asked news photographers to keep their distance.

‘We just want to get her buried,’ he said.”

The Blogmeister hopes the news media will abide by the grandfather’s wishes.  Please give this little girl the respect in death she never received in life.  Nuff said.

UPDATE:  The Indy Star is now reporting the Minister at the funeral, an Uncle of Charity Bailey’s Father has used the eulogy of TaJanay as an opportunity to criticized the was her case was handled by Family and Children’s Services.  Here are the quotes from the story, which is at the same link as the one noted above:

“They dropped her in a house of pain,” said the Rev. Jimmy Bailey. “The Department of Children’s Services dropped the ball.”

“They lock people up for child neglect and somebody needs to stand up and say something,” Bailey told the mourners.

On a side note, the Star also reports, “The Department of Child Services said it would send representatives to the funeral”  The Star is also running a picture of the church, with mourners outside.

The Blogmeister is saddened by these recent developments.  He does not see this as the time for the minister to be criticizing the system or commenting on the events surrounding TaJanay’s death.  There will be plenty of time in the future for that.  Instead, the Blogmeister would rather he focus on helping the living deal with this tragedy in the most appropriate way they can.  The Blogmeister is also very disappointed in the Indy Star for photographing the church, after TaJanay’s Father specifically asked the media to stay away.  It’s sad that during this child’s life no one ever considered her needs.  It’s sadder this has continued after her death.