My thoughts and prayers are with you...  / Heather Hampel (Friend)
My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jess was an amazing daughter, wife, godmother, friend...

My heart goes out to you all...  @->-- Close

Also in shock  / Liz Harman (Friend)
John and I are still in shock over the news. In the past few days, it seems that everything around me reminds me of Jess. Especially music. Our condolences go out to the Bungards and her husband. She will always live in our hearts. Close

Shocked / Ayana Grady (friend)
I am so sad to hear that Jess passed away!  Jess was a big part of my development as the Pep Band DJ, always encouraging me to play more 80's music (especially Madonna) at every party.  I will always remember her dancing with abandon, not caring what other people thought.  Though I haven't seen her since graduation, I will truly miss Jess. Close

Memory / Amanda Farrell (Friend)

"Some people come into our lives and quietly go.  Others come and stay for a while and leave footprints on our heart and we are never the same."

My thoughts and prayers are with Cody, Jess's folks, Nora, and all of you dear friends as you seek out peace and comfort during this difficult time.  

I have lots of fond memories with Jess!  We shared many good laughs--especially when we lived in the Harmon House--she nicknamed the House of Style!  I have a great set of photos with Jess, Sean Mike, and myself doing shots.  We have the before shot photo with all of us smiling--shots held high!  We have the during shots photo--we all look so mighty, heads back.  Finally, the after photo with all of our squinched up faces.  Who knows if there was an ocassion for these festivities.  Really, it didn't matter.  Celebrating friendship was always enough!

I am so glad that Jess took a stroll on my heart.  Was it a stroll?  You know, it was more of a dance.  Thank you, Jess.

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A great loss  / Lauren Alder Reid (Classmate)
I got to know Jess through our certificate program in law school and had a chance to really see her shine in moot court activities.  She was a smart, dynamic woman with so much to share.  Her loss is a great one to her friends and family, the legal community, and the world in which she was making a true difference. Close

Jess Rocked  / Jonathan Distler (Friend)
I am at a loss for words, something Jess never had a problem with ... I personally will miss her energy, smile and enthusiasm. She was an incredible lady and the world is much worse off without her in it. Close

Im sorry  / Carrie Hoffman
While I was no where near to Jessica as most of you on this website, I just wanted to pay my condolences to Jess and her family and friends.  I am Abbe MacBeth's sister and am priveledged to have known Jess and be a part of her life.  I am so sorry for your loss. Close

Somewhere she's brightening someone's day  / Emily Tiedeman (friend)
While I was nowhere near as close to Jess as those who have posted before me, I cannot describe the sadness I'm feeling over Jess's passing.  My first memory of her was playing cards at the hotel in Ft Lauderdale at the MicronPC Bowl.  I was a lowly first year, but Jess knew exactly who I was and did her best to make me feel like I belonged.
Her creativity and joy were beyond compare.  Whenever she was around, I knew I was in for a great laugh, whether it be a well timed witticism or a really well made stingray costume.
I think I'm going through all the stages of grief at once here, but I know that Jess would want me to come to acceptance as soon as possible.  It won't change the fact that she's been taken way too soon.
My heart goes out to her family.  Cody, Jay, John and Nora, I can't even begin to know what you are feeling.  Just know that Jess will be forever loved and will be in our hearts forever. Close

There was no comparison  / Peter Tait (friend)
Jess was nothing if not enthusiastic. I think she was the only person I ever met who could bellow over the volume of the entire Band, and I'd bet at least half of that was sheer force of personality. Of all the ways I remember her, that's the strongest--standing up in front of all of us, arms waving wildly, trying desperately to make order out of chaos and enjoying every minute of it. Her laughing at any joke, no matter how awful, also comes to mind. To this day I don't know if she truly found them funny or just laughed to make the rest of us feel better. In hindsight I can't decide which one I prefer, but I like to think it was both. In all the conversations I've had with people about Jess over the past few days (and there have been many), we all found ourselves saying, "Jess would have found that SO funny!"

The only thing more I can think of to say right now is to paraphrase one of my favorite lines of all time:

"If she were here now, I'd congratulate her on being a great woman, and thank her for being a friend." Close

A Dear Friend  / Rachel McKenzie (Friend)

I cannot possibly put my sorrow at Jess's passing into words.   It is a testament to the warmth of her personality that even now, in the depth of sadness, memories of my time with her make me smile.  It was so easy to laugh with Jess, at times so hard that my stomach hurt.  I loved how she would would abbreviate phrases in ways that didn't actually lessen the time it took to say them, like "g.p." instead of "good point."   I loved how she would tent her fingers like Mr. Burns to say "exxxcccelllent."  I loved the way she said "hilarious" - "hi-LAR-ious."  And I loved quoting Wanda from "In Living Color" with her so frequently during my first year at UVa . . . "I got you!  You don't got to go no where!"

Beyond the fun times (and there were a lot of fun times), I remember Jess as a pillar of support.  Recently, she told me that she still thought I would one day get a clerkship with the Supreme Court.  That is an impossible achievement, yet Jess was convinced that I could do it, and would brook no protestations to the contrary from me.  For that and so, so many other things, I will always love her and will never forget her.

Cody, Jay, John, and Nora - you are all in my heart.

"The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.  Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.  Call me by the old familiar name.  Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.  Put no sorrow in your tone.  Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.  Play, smile, think of me, pray for me." - An Irish funeral blessing 

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Painting the Nursery  / Evan Macbeth (friend)
There are few things I hate more than painting. So when the time came to paint Natalie's nursery, I had to steel my teeth and set to it. Abbe helped (doing a great job with the detail work), but as she was quite pregnant at the time, we weren't completely keen with her spending a ton of time painting.

The weekend we painted, Jess came and helped. She drove to Leesburg from Fredericksburg and spent a perfectly good Saturday afternoon painting Natalie's room with us. She didn't have to, it wasn't her job. But she did. And as a result, that day of painting was actually fun. We laughed, we talked, we found out Jess was Catholic.

After that day, Abbe and I talked about asking Jess to be Natalie's godmother. We thought we couldn't ask for someone better. Her happy and exuberant personality, combined with her abiding love for her friends, were exactly what we felt a godmother should be.

At Cody and Jessica's rehersal dinner, Abbe and I couldn't help ourselves, we were so happy and excited about the future, so we asked Jessica then and there to be Natalie's godmother, and she accepted. On June 1st 2008, Jess became part of our family, becoming Natalie's godmother in a short service at our church.

Natalie will grow up knowing about her godmother Jess. An amazing woman, friend and family member who loved her before Natalie knew what the words meant. We are lucky, we are honored that we had even those brief weeks knowing Natalie had the best godmother around. Close

Jess was amazing...  / Abbe (friend)
Beth is right: there are no words. I still cannot believe that this has happened. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I will never see one of my best friends again. I hate that Natalie will never truly get to know her godmother (although we will do everything we can to tell her about Jess). I cherish every moment, email, photo, and conversation that I had with Jess.

Jess was such an amazing person and friend. She will be sorely missed, and we will remember her always. Close

Memories / Beta (friend)

There aren't words for all the wonderful memories I have.  From Pep Band to sharing an appartment to Ireland to my wedding to Costa Rica to your wedding to our last time together.  Jess, you are in my heart forever and always.  We will never forget you.  I love you. 

Cody, Jay, John and Nora, my thoughts are with you.

"Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind!" -Henri Amiel

Jess, you have gladden our hearts and we are all the better for have knowing you and having you in our lives, if but for a moment.

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I have no words yet  / Beth Freeborn (Friend)
I don't have the words yet, but I hope that people can use this website to share stories and pictures and all the great memories of Jess. Close