In times of great tragedy, there are two choices — learn and move forward or be frozen by sorrow.

Vicksburg and its residents seemingly have been frozen in sorrow since June 27, the night police say 69-year-old Sharen Wilson was stalked, attacked, abducted from her home on Drummond Street and later killed at the abandoned Kuhn Memorial Hospital on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Such tragedy is enough to freeze anyone in any town in their footsteps.

Now, Church of the Holy Trinity is offering women in our community a chance to learn and move forward by offering a women’s night out to talk abut safety at 6 p.m. July 23 at the church.

“I wanted it to be something positive because this is such a horrific, horrific event,” said the Rev. Beth Palmer, rector of the church. “Hearing people talk about their fears about their neighborhoods, going out at night, driving back to a house if they live alone or having trouble sleeping, I thought maybe we need to get together and comfort each other.”

Palmer’s right. There must be some positive that comes from each horrific tragedy.

The free vent is open to women 16 and older and speakers include crime prevention specialists from Vicksburg Police Department and a counselor.

“I want them to feel as if we’re in this together, meaning we’re living in the 21st century in this community together,” Palmer said. “We need to watch out for each other, help each other and remind each other on how to take care of ourselves.”

Palmer said she hopes the event helps calm fears after Wilson’s tragic, senseless death, and we certainly do too.

It’s time for the healing to begin and we can’t think of a better way. Sharen Wilson would be proud to know her memory might help save a life.