Friends gather to honor memory of Teena Hill
Dec 7, 2020
Candles lit in memory of Teena Hill. Photo by: Chloe Shelford
About 20 people gathered at the Onset Bandshell on Sunday night to honor the memory of Teena Hill, the homeless woman who was killed on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Hill was a mother of two, and a beloved member of the homeless community.
“She was just the most wonderful friend that I had,” said Penny Draper. Draper moved from Wareham to New Bedford several years ago but made the bus trip back several times a week to visit Hill and other friends.
“I did not care that my friend was homeless,” Draper said. “I would not leave my friend behind.”
“She was such a goofball. She was funny,” said another friend of Hill’s who wished to remain anonymous. “She was always there if you needed a word.”
The friend said Hill was part of the family formed by members of the homeless community in Wareham.
“We’re all a family. We all help each other,” the friend said. “When we’re up, we’re up, and when we’re down, we’re down, but we’re all in it together.”
Shannon Rice described Hill as a lovable and good-hearted person.
“Even in the midst of everything she was going through, she was always present as a friend,” said another mourner, who described Hill as a “happy-go-lucky person.”
“It’s devastating to the community,” the person said.
Lisa Morales brought candles and hot coffee to the event. She has been working to support the homeless community after the shut-down of the Nights of Hospitality program, which provided overnight shelter and meals for the homeless throughout the winter. The program was run by churches that were not able to safely host the program during the pandemic.
“I’m here to support the community, and Teena was part of the community,” Morales said.
Morales observed that many people are in worsening economic conditions due to the pandemic, and rates of violence and abuse within families and relationships have increased along with that economic stress.
Morales said she hopes town officials will convene a task force with local organizations and clergy members to help address the homelessness situation in Wareham, especially as winter sets in.
