CHICAGO (CBS) — Several Chicago mothers gathered Sunday to honor and remember the children they have lost to gun violence.
The effort was led by a mother and her granddaughter who know the pain all too well.
In a room in the South Shore neighborhood, a room was filled with women who had all experienced loss – whether it was their own child or a family member.
The room was filled with emotion, strength and hope – the things these women embody after dealing with grief.
The dinner was hosted by Sherry Wesley and Chevonna Myles – Daveon Gibson’s grandmother and mother, a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed on January 31 after leaving Senn High School.
His family said this dinner was not just about their loved one, but to serve as a space of healing as these mothers hope for a safer Chicago in which their loved ones live.
“I want these women to open up and let them know that we’re not alone. It’s other people going through the same thing as you. And I just feel like I want to take this to another level to keep my baby’s name alive to keep,” Myles said.
Gibson’s mother said her goal next year is to wrap her arms around even more mothers experiencing grief and keep children off the streets.
Another event for families of gun violence was planned for Sunday evening in Hyde Park, where a candle will be lit in honor of the lives lost.
