Huntsville Artist Creates Clocks to Honor Murder Victims
Donna Howell produces custom memorial clocks to help families of gun violence victims navigate their grief.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Violence
Huntsville artist Donna Howell has created 70 handmade memorial clocks featuring photographs of children lost to gun violence. These functional timepieces serve as tributes for families, including Glenda Wesley, who received one following the death of her 15-year-old son, Phillip Fletcher Jr.
Why it matters
The project offers a physical form of comfort to parents struggling with the sudden loss of their children. By integrating cherished photographs into daily functional objects, Howell provides families with a lasting way to remember their loved ones.
Artist Donna Howell has completed 70 memorial clocks for local families, including a tribute for Phillip Fletcher Jr., who was killed on September 3, 2024. Mae Jemison High School currently plans to award a memorial diploma for Fletcher in 2026.
The players
Donna Howell
Donna Howell is a Huntsville artist who crafts handmade memorial clocks for families who have lost children to gun violence.
Glenda Wesley
Glenda Wesley is a Huntsville resident who received a memorial clock to honor her son, Phillip Fletcher Jr.
Phillip Fletcher Jr.
Phillip Fletcher Jr. was a 15-year-old student at Mae Jemison High School who was killed in 2024.
Mae Jemison High School
Mae Jemison High School is an educational institution in Huntsville that plans to honor a former student with a memorial diploma in 2026.
Larry Flaccamio
Larry Flaccamio was a victim of a 2014 murder in the local area.
The details
Howell incorporates photographs of children who have been killed into the designs of working clocks that families display alongside other keepsakes. This effort follows a history of local tragedies, including the 2014 murder of Larry Flaccamio, which occurred 12 years prior to recent commemorations.
Timeline
December 2014: Larry Flaccamio was murdered.
September 3, 2024: Phillip Fletcher Jr. was killed at age 15.
2026: Mae Jemison High School honors Phillip Fletcher Jr. with a diploma.
Legal Context
The 2014 murder of Larry Flaccamio provides a long-term reference point for the persistent local impact of gun violence in Huntsville. This story highlights the ongoing nature of grief in the city by linking recent memorial efforts to the legacy of past tragedies.
The initiative highlights the ongoing emotional toll of gun violence on Huntsville families and the communal efforts to provide support. Residents may note the planned 2026 memorial diploma at Mae Jemison High School as an example of school-led efforts to honor victims.
The takeaway
These memorial clocks provide a tangible way for families to integrate the memory of their lost children into their daily lives. Such tributes illustrate the enduring local efforts to offer communal comfort in the wake of tragic gun violence.
What happens next
Mae Jemison High School is scheduled to present a memorial diploma in honor of Phillip Fletcher Jr. in 2026.
Further reading
Find more information on local support and safety initiatives in the Huntsville Violence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Waff.
