Virginia Shooting: Slain TV Journalists Alison Parker, Adam Ward Remembered

A memorial service was held at a Virginia church for Alison Parker and Adam Ward - the two WBDJ-TV journalists who were shot on live TV.

The Jefferson Center in Roanoke was filled with mourners and community religious leaders who gathered to remember the life of Parker (24 years  old) and Ward (27 years old), as reported by Time. Accompanied by music by the  Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the service began with a slideshow of the WDBJ-TV duo 'wearing warm smiles as they worked as a tag-team on stories.'

WDBJ-TV station general manager Jeff Marks spoke during the memorial. "I've given many talks over the years, never with so heavy a heart," he said, as per NBC New York. Marks furthers that there is a need for American society to deal better and  more directly with anger, and angry people - the same words he said to  Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Referring to Wednesday's shooting, he says that untreated by mental health services, anger can have 'catastrophic consequences.'

He added, "Services exist and we must use them for ourselves and for those we know who have uncontrolled anger. We must learn to speak directly to anger: 'You are angry and that must make you feel awful.'"

Time quotes Marks' speech:

"Mental illness cannot exist on the periphery of health care," Marks said. "It should be obvious that it needs to be center stage because most mental illness is treatable if we can get to the sufferer. In this case, we didn't."

Finally, he ended with his own lament, as cited by NBC New York: "I want to play softball with Adam again, and I want to see Alison dance. And I will, in the wonderful memories they gave me; [that] they gave us."

Scholarships were funded in honor of Parker and Ward.

Parker graduated from Patrick Henry Community College and James Madison University and both schools have established scholarships under her name, according to CNN. To be awarded on an annual basis at Patrick Henry Community College, the Alison Bailey Parker Memorial Scholarship will be given to a deserving PHCC student who will enter the Media Design and Production program.

Ward graduated from both Salem High School and Virginia Tech, as per CNN. The Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association have established a scholarship in memory of Ward, a 2007 graduate. The Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. also has set up a scholarship fund.

According to Time, Ward's funeral will be Sept. 1 at First Baptist Church in Roanoke. Meanwhile, based on Parker's obituary indicates that 'a celebration of her life' will happen following a private memorial service.