Kelly Gissendaner Executed By Lethal Injection While Singing “Amazing Grace”

Kelly Gissendaner, the only woman on Georgia’s death row, was executed early Wednesday morning through lethal injection. She was 47.

GEORGIA EXECUTES KELLY GISSENDANER

Kelly Renee Gissendaner was pronounced dead by lethal injection at 12: 21 a.m. by the state prison in Jackson. Gissendaner was convicted of murder on February 1997 for taking part with her lover in the fatal stabbing of her husband, Douglas Gissendancer to death.

Before facing her execution, Kelly Gissendaner was in tears as she sang “Amazing Grace” as the pentobartibal entered her body, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post. The convicted murderer gave her love to her three children and apologized to her husband’s family, saying that she hopes they find peace and happiness. “I just want to say God bless you all and I love you, Susan. You let my kids know I went out singing ‘Amazing Grace,'” Gissendaner said.

The mother of three was supposed to be executed in February, but it got delayed because the chemicals appeared cloudy. After the new execution date was set, Gissendaner tried to convince the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to reassess her request for mercy.

Gissendaner’s three children saw their mother one last time on Monday and also made an appeal on Tuesday in front of the George Board of Pardons and Paroles to spare her life, but were denied. “We chose to try and save her life, and they still denied us,” daughter Kayla Gissendaner said outside the state’s execution facility in Jackson.

Even Pope Francis’ letter to the parole board didn’t persuade them to change their decision, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“While not wishing to minimize the gravity of the crime for which Ms. Gissendaner has been convicted, and while sympathizing with the victims, I nonetheless implore you, in consideration of the reasons that have been presented to your Board, to commute the sentence to one that would better express both justice and mercy,” the letter read.

U.S., Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano sent the letter on Tuesday on behalf of the pontiff to see if the board would change their mind about the execution. The Pope was also at a joint session with the U.S. Congress last week during his visit in America calling for an end to the death penalty.

In a statement, Douglas Gissendaner’s family said on Monday that he was a victim and that Kelly got what she deserved, NBC News reported. “As the murderer, she’s been given more rights and opportunity over the last 18 years than she ever afforded to Doug who, again, is the victim here,” the statement says. “She had no mercy, gave him no rights, no choices, nor the opportunity to live his life.”

More than 100 people gathered outside the prison to show their support for Gissendaner. Among the crowd was Rev. Della Bacote, who works at the Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Bacote spent several hours chatting and praying with Gissendaner on Tuesday afternoon. “She was at peace with whatever was to come,” Bacote said.