To the family of Nolan,
My name is Ms.Palmer and I worked in the Biology Department at JSU where I had the opportunity to have Mr. Nolan as one of the departments Work Study Students.  The last I saw Nolan was that Friday before spring break when he came into the office and said, ok Ms. Palmer, I am getting ready to go home for spring break and I will see you when I return. He sat there for a while and I asked what was wrong and he said nothing.  Not knowing that would be my last time seeing, or communicating with him I  told him to make sure he had a good Spring Break and do not do anything he's not supposed to as I told all the students.  I received a call from one of the other work study students who told me what happened and asked if I was sitting because each student knew how much I cared for them and how I treated them as if they were mine.  My heart was broken and still is everytime I think about how Nolan loss his life.  To the Henderson Family, I am always thinking, praying and wondering how you all are doing even thou it has been since 2012.  My prayers are FOREVER with you all.  

I will always miss you. You promised to visit me while you were at JSU. Never did. I forgave you for that. I remember my college days. Remembering all the times your Dad brought you to visit. Do remember you and Damien washing the truck and cut up my yellow water hose? Those were the fun days. I will hold dear to my heart a telephone call you and I had last year. I told you I thought you had forgotten Grandmother. You said never think that  as I was always in your heart. You are always in my heart. God had greater plans for you. Wish you could have stayed but that wasn't the Master's plan. Granddaddy now has company. I am sure it was joyful reunion. Rest in peace and know the fight for justice is still  going on. Justice for Ryan.


One of my Nolan's gone to soon,
Love, Grandmother   

It's alot of stories I could remember of your big head doing something to compete with the older guys.  But one in particular sits with me, funny, but a cool parallel to your ambition.

The whole family met in Dallas at Uncle Doug's house one Summer.  Just some time of random family gathering, and it was one of the few times everybody came. And it was some kind of parade or something, who knows, it's Dallas.  And Rashad , for some reason, wanted thought he could prove his athletic prowess against me in a race.  So, me being who I was, I wasn't about to simply tell him "another time" without me having a W in my column yet.  So, we were lined up Aunt Sonja volunteered to give the countdown, and while we were lining up, you decided you wanted in on this race....  Of course everybody suggest you wait and maybe race Damien, can't remember if you said "ok" or if you stayed in place.  But after Sonja yelled "GO" and after I whooped Rashad, (and that's fact), and Sonja is yelling over my celebration "Go Ryan!" I turn around, and see a you, no-shoes, socks falling off, crossing the finish line running as fast as his little legs could move you, lol.  

I don't think it's a coincidence that once you were in Atlanta, and went to Jackson State, everybody else has a story to talk about how ambitious you were.  I remember being impressed after me and my dad brought you a few things to your dorm after you moved in, and I asked, "Why'd you want to come so early". And you responded "I want to get in and finish fast and go do grad school".  

It's terrible that you had to go so soon, everybody wanted to see where that ambition would end up later on in life..  So quite naturally raw emotion has everyone off their rocker for a while, and it'll still hurt when heads are thinking clearly again, but..  Everybody, will pick up the pieces and live stronger for you, and we'll be better because of it. 

"Smile"
-Big Cuz, Gerard