FARGO — As heartfelt words and comments from a Facebook post made by Blackbird Woodfire pizza restaurant in Fargo earlier this week in tribute to one of their most treasured employees indicate, Jody Campbell was a truly beloved fixture of the community. The post called her “the face and heart of the restaurant. A passionate server, a trusted friend and coworker, and a caring soul in the community," and remembered "her spitfire energy, her heart of gold, and her passion for serving others.
” The comments — nearly 200 of them — are full of vignettes from customers who adored Campbell, former employees who she took under her wing and became their “work mom,” and downtown businesses and workers mourning a woman who they said was a “ray of sunshine” in every room she graced. On Saturday, June 8, Campbell, 59, was killed, police said, by a man who claimed he was her boyfriend. The police press release from the killing called it a domestic dispute-related murder.
Randall Duffy, 61, was arrested and charged in the case. Four of Campbell’s best friends gathered at Blackbird this week to talk about her life. Caitlin Wachsmuth, Nicole Bartholomay, and Erica Laughlin have all been servers alongside Campbell over the last ten years.
Wayne Arnold was so taken with Campbell that he asked her to marry him last summer with a surprise ring at a back booth at Blackbird. While the engagement didn’t stick, the two were still close. He wears the ring around his neck on a chain.