Mesha Caldwell was 41, a hair and makeup artist and a transgender woman. Two days ago her body was found along a road in Canton, Mississippi (Madison County). Coroner Alex Breeland did not deny that she had been shot to death. The incident has been ruled a homicide.

Wars suppress the natural urge of men to behave in a manner that has no bearing to and can even remotely be construed as civilized behavior. Anytime, anywhere, when the cycle of violence is momentarily interrupted or broken, that, in itself, is worthy of remembrance. Even in the midst of unprecedented carnage in World War I, soldiers on both sides found within themselves a modicum of human decency and desire for peace.

TDoR initiated in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to memorialize the murder of Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts. It has been held annually ever since...on November 20.

At live gatherings, there is generally a reading of those who have died as a result of violence over the past year.

Five days ago Brandi Bledsoe, a 32-year-old transgender woman, was found dead on a driveway in Cleveland in only her underwear with plastic bags over her head and hands.

The body was discovered by a 5-year-old boy who was out riding his bike with his 12-year-old brother.

Police have disclosed that Brandi suffered head trauma. They also initially misgendered the victim.

Her death is a suspected homicide, but the medical examiner has not offered an official ruling on how she died.

Investigators will take her transgender status into consideration in the investigation. The investigation is in its early stages and it's too early to determine of motive for Bledsoe's death.

--Cleveland police spokesman Jennifer Ciaccia

A transgender woman from High Point, NC was found shot to death in a Birmingham, AL motel this past Friday. She was then misgendered and dead-named by police and the news media.

Police Sgt. Bryan Shelton said investigators have no motive or suspect information.

I guess all portents indicated my first essay upon returning from a bout of sickness would concern some death. The Lady Chablis died. Alexis Arquette.

But we're left to believe those were from natural causes. Chablis died after a month in a hospital fighting pneumonia. Alexis was in a coma at Cedars Sinai for four days before passing while listening to David Bowie's Starman.