JEFFERSON COUNTY - Betty Shoels, aunt of Isaiah Shoels, one of the students killed at Columbine High School, is upset that her church's choir will not be allowed to sing at the Columbine Memorial dedication ceremony.

"This is very hurtful," said Shoels. "So many people donated millions to the memorial, and they don't want the black child to be represented."

Shoels said she received an e-mail from Bob Easton, chairman of the Columbine Memorial Committee, last week, asking for ideas from victims' families on what they would like to see at the Sept. 21 ceremony to dedicate the $1.5 million memorial.

"I wanted my church choir to sing, and I submitted that to Bob Easton," she said. "He said he would check with the committee and get back to me."

Shoels belongs to the Voices of Faith Church in Aurora, which has a gospel choir.

"Have you ever listened to a black gospel spiritual," she asked. "This is what I want and this is what the family wants in memory of Isaiah."

Isaiah Shoels' parents, Michael and Vonda Shoels, no longer live in Colorado.

Shoels said Easton left a message on her cell phone.

"He said, 'Thanks for the offer,' but he declined,' " Shoels said. "He said the community wouldn't approve of something like that. He said he has nothing against religion, and we could do it if we submit a CD."

Shoels said she interpreted Easton's response as having racial overtones.

"The way I took it, they (the choir) wouldn't have to be seen," she said. "If I got him a CD, the less black faces that he has to see."

Easton did not return repeated calls for comment.

Shoels said that since her nephew was the only black victim at Columbine, something at the ceremony should acknowledge that.

"I felt the memorial was based on memoralizing the kids and their families," she said. "I never asked for anything before. They never let me participate."

Shoels said she also wanted to speak at the dedication but was told that Dawn Anna Beck, mother of Lauren Townsend, has been designated to speak for all the victims' families.

"Why can't I speak about my nephew?" she said. "They must want me to just sit in the background. They want me to come out and be shown that the families are there. It's not about the children or the teacher that died. It's about the park, but (the dedication) is not about all that."

Paul Rufien, a member of the Columbine Memorial Committee, said that Shoels was among a number of family members of victims who had offered suggestions to Easton.

He said that Easton's response to her should not be interpreted as racist.

"I can say without hesitation that those concerns have absolutely no basis at all," he said. "Isaiah Shoels is certainly getting acknowledged during the memorial and during the dedication."

Rufien, who also sits on the subcommittee in charge of organizing the dedication ceremony, said that while he was unaware that Shoels had made a request to speak at the ceremony, he said there were time constraints for the dedication which limited the number of speakers.

"We're attempting to balance a lot of content and a lot of material," he said. "We're making the decisions in the best interest of the memorial and everyone that we're representing."

fongt@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5489