Dear Editor,
According to media reports former Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax recently murdered his wife, Cerina. He then took his own life. He was only 47 years old. She was 48.
Justin Fairfax had been a rising star in the Democratic party. He served as the Lieutenant Governor in Virginia from 2018 – 2022. He was one of the few African Americans elected to statewide office in Virginia. He was known for his hard work as a federal prosecutor and private attorney. He made history as the second African American elected statewide in Virginia.
Cerina was a dentist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University. She also graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from VCU Medical College of Virginia. She and Justin had two children, a son and a daughter.
According to reports the couple was embroiled in a messy divorce and ongoing conflict. Their children were home but not harmed and their son called 911.
Such a tragedy makes us all sad. We wonder how two successful people could have such a horrific ending. None of us know the extent of the toxicity that invaded the lives of these two successful people. Who knows for sure what brought about such an ending?
There is always a better way than hurting someone. Emotional pain is never made better by physical violence. Depression, mental illness, a life failure and career failures can add to anyone’s pain but is never made better by doing something bad. The problem is only made worse. Two children are now without parents because their father’s obvious mental breakdown turned ugly.
Every human being has the potential to experience problems, issues, sin and mistakes of all kinds. If you live long enough and do anything at all you will deal with some kind of upheaval, pain or failure. The only way to avoid this to never move and then you won’t have much of a life. Just a walk across the yard presents the potential of stumbling and falling.
Accepting that we are human challenges us to work hard at dealing with things that could make us angry. Uncontrollable anger is problematic anywhere and anytime. Add some alcohol to it and it will develop into a raging inferno that burns you and others. You don’t need that nor does anyone else.
If Fairfax’s wife wanted a divorce then so be it and let it be. If the issues cannot be worked out then people need to resolve to go their separate way in a civil manner. Fighting to the bloody end brings about a bad result that frequently impacts the innocent. Too often, the innocent are left behind to spend the rest of their lives trying to figure it all out.
You don’t need the stress or the mess. Be at peace with yourself and others.
Sources, NBC News, CNN, Fox News, New York Times
Dr. Glenn Mollette
