Obituary — Jordan Witherspoon

Normally I do not comment on personalities of military figures in Second Life. I leave that for people less biased than myself, for even if I were to eliminate the bias from myself, whom would be able to tell? News is news, facts are facts, and opinions are debatable. Yet, how do we obtain the truth? And whom is to say that just because we are charged with ensuring truth before we post it, that we actually do so? Anything that I can say about a military on here would be debated by their people. And because I am involved in militaries and these people, is there not reason to believe that I am bias?

However, it is due to my involvement in militaries that I choose to write this. And it is due to the character of the individual, about whom I write, that allows me to discard my worry about bias. For those of you whom believe that the statement I make is not true, I bid for you to go to the sim of Tethys and see the reality for yourself. It is with much regret that I post this. And it is my honor to be privileged with giving at least one place where she may be remembered.

The next Commanding Officer of the Alliance Navy’s Judge Advocate General will have large shoes to fill, for the Alliance lost one of their best. On Sunday, December 10th, Jordan Witherspoon, also known as Dorien Van Den Elshout, passed away at the age of 28. Complications of surgery that led to lung failure were to blame.

The Alliance Navy set up a memorial in Tethys. In the next few hours, some 200 odd people paid their respects. These people represented a variety of organizations, including members of the Merczateers, Grand Federation, German Army, as well as previous Novus Ordo Imperialists. Yet, this wide array of respects is incapable of showing what type of person that Jordan was.

This journalist met Jordan after one of the Alliance Navy II raids upon Tethys. The Alliance Navy II, also known as the AN II, would become the Venuma Coalition, and later, the Novus Ordo Imperialis. At the time, they were being led by Aryte Vesperia. I was a member of the Alliance Navy II, although my reasons for being so were to investigate what type of group the AN II was. After the conflict, I moved in and infiltrated Tethys, and found Jordan, whom had just logged on, and was trying to sort out what had occurred. It was there I spoke to her and asked for her help on identifying whom the true troublemakers within both the Alliance Navy, and the AN II.

Due to time restrictions, I was unable to complete that task, although I often talked to Jordan about flaws I saw, or tried to check my information with hers. Looking back, there were several times that we disagreed. And there were several times that we argued, that I was in the wrong. While I never got to know her all that well, Jordan was always there to hug me when I figured that out and apologized. I suppose I could say that Jordan was partially responsible for me retaining my sanity, amongst other things.

I never saw Jordan lose her temper or instigate a fight. She was always one of those people whom tried to solve problems with actual solutions, not rumors, nor any unseen tactics. She cared greatly for what she did, and she put many hours and much effort into leading the Alliance Navy down a path of righteousness. That isn’t to say that the Alliance Navy has never done wrong – but what goods it has contributed to Second Life, can in turn, be attributed to the leadership that Jordan provided. Indeed Jordan promoted from the Rank of O-5 to the Rank of A-1, Rear Admiral (lower half), as an honorary promotion that came after her passing.

If you would like to post memories of Jordan or comment, feel free to do so. Also, donations for operation PearTree are still being accepted.

Links for this article are;

SL Public Forums

Moolbora Memorial

Tethys Memorial