For Lexi: Mom Fills Late Daughter's Front Row Seat as Band's 'Number 1 Fan'

In September, 17-year-old Lemont High School senior Lexi Turner was struck and killed by a train while walking along tracks. She was wearing headphones at the time, and her death was ruled accidental.

To honor Lexi’s status as the “number 1 fan” of local band The Threads, her mother Amy stood front row at the band’s most recent show, where she “felt Lexi in my soul tonight.” Read on for her account of the evening.

At Lexi’s memorial service in September, I was approached by Justin Bell, lead guitarist for a local band of youngsters named, “The Threads”. Justin told me that Lexi was a staunch supporter of the band, and often could be seen in the front row of their performances. Over time, he and Lexi got to be very good friends, and he was now very shaken by her death. He told me he would never forget her. He made a generous contribution to her memorial fund and offered to help us in any way he could, now or in the future.

I was very touched by his grieving and the loss he obviously felt. I told him that some day in the not too distant future I would love to attend a performance of The Threads, and take Lexi’s place in the front row. That was a way to show my appreciation for his kindness and concern, and something that Lexi would be very proud of. Justin loved the idea.

On the Sunday between Christmas and New Year, the band was slotted as the headliner at the House of Blues. A number of Lexi’s high school friends (whom I cannot say enough about for continuing to be in close touch with me) told me they would go to the performance. I decided that was a good time to fulfill my promise. I would go, too.

I enlisted the help of my best friend, Mari, and her daughter-in-law to go with me. We were all so very excited; however, I admit that I was a little anxious over where my emotions might take me: would I laugh, or would I cry, would I be sad, or happy? Or would it be, all of the above?

The three of us “oldsters” arrived at the House of Blues, just as the band had begun the concert. As we expected, the crowd was young, between seventeen and twenty one, mostly teenagers. How would we fit into that group?

We squirmed our way to the front, to where Lexi’s high school friends were already singing and dancing. Knowing we would be there, they saved places for us. All had the biggest smiles you ever saw, especially when we joined them.

We quickly got into the spirit of the evening. No problem whatsoever.

Justin saw our arrival and a big smile lit his face. As he continued to play, he gave me a cool, rocker’s head nod. It was elating. It must have been a similar feeling to what Lexi felt when she occupied the place that I did now.

I quickly noticed that Justin’s guitar strap was green (Lexi’s favorite color), as he told me at the memorial service that he would now do. I had no doubt that Lexi’s picture was also affixed to the underside of the guitar strap, as he also said he would now do,

The evening was magical. Everyone was singing, dancing, and laughing the entire time. Being with Lexi’s friends there, the band honoring Lexi, and me in Lexi’s spot gave me a sense of being very proud and happy. I really felt as if Lexi was there, in my heart and in my soul. My body truly tingled. I did not want the evening to end.

I cannot count how many pictures (selfies) and videos the kids took of us and them. Facebook was full of evidence that they all had as much fun as we did.

The day after the performance, I got a text from Justin that read, “It means so much that you came. I can feel Lexi there in a very real way.” Though he obviously feels that I provided some comfort to him, he has no idea what he did for me. A wonderful evening of friends, family, music, laughter and love. I will remember it forever.

At the performance, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Justin’s mom, Tina. She is the adoring mother of five children. I can attest to her rearing ability. Justin does her proud.