Hope Center

established to address the unmet needs of patients & families

affected by HIV in Knox & surrounding counties

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Seasons of Hope ... Summer

In Memory of

Robert Allan "Bobby" Sapp

December 10, 1964 - February 13, 1997

Among the Stars

Far beyond the earth’s outer limits

beyond her moon, sun and stars

beyond that point where her giant telescopes

can no longer see

into the deepest reaches of the vast universe

surrounding her

where there is no day or night or time,

my spirit will be free

to soar through endless galaxies,

bask in the radiant glow of a thousand suns

and chill in the far icy dark corners.

click on picture to view Quilt block

The earth turns on her axis

creating day and night and time.

I have been invited to share a brief moment of that time.

When this mere moment is spent,

when my vessel has deteriorated and returned to the earth,

I will not be dead or lost

but will have only gone to another place.

As surely as I have known you here on this earth,

I will know you again.

With our free spirits joined together,

we shall frolic tirelessly among the stars.

Vernon Lee Gillian

Note. This was written for Bobby Sapp by his dad (Vernon Gillian)

the week before Bobby died. The poem was included on the

AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel that Vernon made for his son (pictured to the left).

Bobby said he liked the idea of being a free spirit and

he especially enjoyed the thought of a tireless frolic among the stars.