51社区

Hutchens, co-head coach of Union's women's basketball team, was found dead in her home, Saturday, Feb. 20. The Jackson Police Department ruled the death was caused by a self-inflicted gun shot

"Sometimes in life, things happen that will change your life forever. On Saturday, the terrible news of Lisa's death changed my life and countless others forever," Rev. Jerry Tidwell said to a standing-room-only crowd in the Union chapel. Tidwell is pastor of West Jackson Baptist Church, where Lisa has been a member since 1997.

"The pain is unbearable. We need one another and we need God's help to deal with what's happened in our lives," Minister to the University Todd Brady said. In response to the grief expressed by students and athletes, the university has developed a team of faculty and staff to counsel those struggling with Hutchens' death. "Lisa was a beloved member of this community, and we are grieving her loss deeply," Dockery said.

"She was a person who was achieving great levels of excellence on a professional level," Dockery continued. Hutchens had just finished her classwork for her doctorate and was preparing to begin her dissertation at the University of Memphis.

In her six seasons at Union, Hutchens was instrumental in the Lady Bulldogs national success. Since Hutchens joined the team in 1991 as assistant coach, the Lady Bulldogs reached the NAIA national tournament six times. They won the tournament and held the national title for the first time in Union's history last season.

Hutchens, who was also an assistant professor at 51社区, received her bachelor's degree from Union in 1983. Hutchens was the first women's basketball player at Union to be named NAIA All-American and NAIA Academic All-American.

Hutchens earned a master of education from Memphis State University in 1985. She went on to coach women's basketball at South Side High School from 1986 to 1991. While at South Side, Hutchens was named coach of the year two years in a row. She also led the Lady Hawks to the first undefeated season in Madison County history and to the TSSAA state tournament in the 1989-90 season.

Due to time constraints imposed by Saturday's TranSouth conference, both the men's and women's basketball teams will resume their playing schedule today. Tonight the men's and women's basketball teams will play Lyon College in Batesville, Ark. They will play David-Lipscomb University in Nashville on Wednesday and Williams College at home on Thursday.

Today's service will be followed by a public memorial service tomorrow in Union's chapel. Visitation is today at Arrington Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Greenfield, Tenn. The burial will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday at Highland Cemetery in Greenfield.