MCHS’ Lange identified as one of victims in Lucy home

By Thomas Sellers Jr.

The normally quiet Lucy neighborhood was full of police cars Monday morning with officers investing two bodies found dead at a house on the 3000 block of Oakhurst Avenue.

By the afternoon, reports identified one of the victims as Millington Central High School Art Teacher Amy Lange. And the other body found was of her estranged husband Mark Perry.

“It is murder-suicide,” said Millington Police Inspector Charlie Coleman.

Millington Police Chief Rita Stanback confirmed the identities of the two found dead at 3829 Oakhurst Ave.

The lost of Lange has hit the MCHS and Millington communities hard prior to Thanksgiving. A teacher at the school for nearly a decade, Lange became known for her promoting her students’ work, growing the art program and building up the culture of art in Millington. She was named Shelby County Schools Teacher of the Year in 2012-13.

“It’s been very exciting,” Lange told The Millington Star earlier this year. “It’s very unexpected. I didn’t expect to be even nominated. Mr. (Mark) Neal nominated me and when they came in they surprised me with balloons and someone from the Board. I thought, ‘Wow, that’s awesome.’ I didn’t think anything farther from that.”

She taught Art II, III and IV. Then advanced placement students and media graphic pupils work under her experienced guidance. Lange used her position as an art teacher to start events like the annual Silent Auction and sales at the Millington Farmer’s Market have promoted students and their creative pieces. Lange was a part of the Millington Arts Council. She got students like ST Davis features on billboards in New York. Other students have been had their work displayed at the Memphis International Airport. Lange and Perry made their home in the Lucy community.

The home they shared at one point was marked by yellow police tape on a cold, damp day. The MPD said the investigation is still ongoing.