Family, friends protest execution of Kelly Gissendaner

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Photos: Family, friends protest execution

Kelly Gissendaner, the only woman on Georgia's death row, was executed on Sept. 30, 2015

From left, Dorinda Tatum, the Rev. Michelle Ledder and Minister Cassandra Henderson react after hearing that Kelly Gissendaner had been executed at 12:21 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Nakita Davis reacts after hearing that Kelly Gissendaner had been executed at 12:21 a.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Protesters sing songs into the night outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015, before the scheduled execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Lisa Rodriguez-Presley, with the Georgia Department of Corrections, announces that Kelly Gissendaner had been executed just after midnight on Wednesday morning, September 30, 2015 at Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Matlin Gilman takes a moment to himself during a protest outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before the scheduled execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Daniel Kolber, of Atlanta, sits as protesters gather outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before the scheduled execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Kayla Gissendaner, center, walks with the Rev. Della Bacote, right, after thanking supporters who were protesting outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before the scheduled execution of her mother Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Protesters sing songs into the night outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015, before the scheduled execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Protesters gather outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before the scheduled execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Marcus Easley embraces the Rev. Della Bacote while talking about spending the last two days with Kelly Gissendaner during a protest outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before Gissendaner's scheduled. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

A Department of Corrections officer directs traffic as protesters gather outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before the scheduled execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Dawn Skorcik, left, of Marietta, and Dawn Barber, of Powder Springs, comfort each other while protesting outside of Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson on Tuesday evening September 29, 2015 before the execution of Kelly Gissendaner. Both women said they are friends of Gissendaner. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

Parol board members (from left) Brian Owens, Terry Barnard and Albert Murray speak as children of Kelly Gissendaner Dakota Brookshire (foreground left) and Brandon Brookshire (oldest son) listen during the hearing to ask parole board to reconsider Gissendaner's clemency request at The State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles denied their plea for a stay of execution. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Lawyer for Kelly Gissendaner Beth Wells confers with oldest son of Kelly Gissendaner (foreground) before the hearing HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

September 29, 2015 Atlanta - Children Kelly Gissendaner Kayla Gissendaner (left) and Dakota Brookshire (foreground) hold hands before the hearing. The parole board denied their plea for clemency and a stay of execution. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Kayla Gissendaner (left) speaks to her brother Dakota Brookshire before the hearing to ask parole board to reconsider Gissendaner's clemency request at The State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Their plea for clemency and a stay of execution was denied. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Lawyers for Kelly Gissendaner (foreground left) Beth Wells and Susan Casey, confer as children of Kelly Gissendaner (background from left) Brandon Brookshire (oldest son), Dakota Brookshire and Kayla Gissendaner wait before the hearing. Their plea for clemency and a stay of execution was denied. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Dakota Brookshire (center) sits with brother Brandon Brookshire (background) and sister Kayla Gissendaner (foreground) before the hearing to ask parole board to reconsider Gissendaner's clemency request at The State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

From background, Brandon Brookshire, the eldest son of Kelly Gissendaner, Dakota Brookshire and Kayla Gissendaner wait before the hearing to ask parole board to reconsider Gissendaner's clemency request on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Until now, Brandon Brookshire, who was born two weeks after his mother graduated from high school, has remained estranged from her until now. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Dakota Brookshire, son of Kelly Gissendaner, sits in a reception room of The State Board of Pardons and Paroles before the hearing to ask parole board to reconsider Gissendaner's clemency request on Tuesday, September 29, 2015. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

In this Nov. 18, 1998, file photo, Kelly Gissendaner in shown in court during her murder trial in Lawrenceville, Ga. Gissendaner, 47, was convicted of murder in the February 1997 slaying of her husband. She conspired with her lover, who stabbed Douglas Gissendaner to death. (Richard Fowlkes(/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)

Kelly Gissendaner persuaded her lover to kill her husband, Douglas Gissendaner (above). Gregory. Owen knocked Gissendaner unconscious, then stabbed him in the neck with a knife repeatedly. Police tracked down Owen, who confessed and testified against his lover. Owen got life with the possibility of parole in 2022.

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From left, Dorinda Tatum, the Rev. Michelle Ledder and Minister Cassandra Henderson react after hearing that Kelly Gissendaner had been executed at 12:21 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

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