Mothers impacted by gun violence support each other

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Losing a child is the most devastating thing that could happen to a mother. Mother’s Day weekend will be especially difficult for a group of women leaning on each other for support.

The Silent Women Speaking Foundation is trying to help ease the pain with the annual Angels Mother’s Day Event -- for parents who lost a child to gun violence.

All the mothers that have gathered at Kingdom Plaza tonight have one thing in common -- a lost loved one, especially a child. A nightmare for any parent. But tonight, was about hope, banding together through grief to life each other up.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re here but we are going to just move forward and make this a positive purpose,” Angel mom Kristal Coleman said.

Moms had memorial tables set up with pictures of their lost loved one to keep their child’s name alive.

Angie Small lost her 30-year-old son, Duke Chatman, in 2020.

“My son was 30 years old when he was murdered,” Small said.

Crystal Anlage lost her son Jacquez Anlage three years ago too. He was 20, two months shy of his 21st birthday.

“We lost him 937 days ago on October 17th of 2020 to gun violence,” Anlage said.

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Rekita Jones lost her daughter Alexcia Anderson earlier this year in January. She was only 25 years old when tragedy struck. She was driving home with a friend after celebrating a Jaguars win over the Chargers.

“Alexcia had been shot,” Jones said. “Unfortunately, they did not make it off the exit when someone proceeded to shoot inside the vehicle.”

Kristal Coleman lost her daughter Tamia Coleman last year in October.

“She was 19 when the incident happened, and we buried her on her 20th birthday,” Coleman said.

Nearly 100 people came out to today’s event -- with some moms coming from other states.

Haraka Carswell, founder of Silent Women Speaking, says these events are meant to help empower mothers.

“I always believe that their babies want me to make sure that they can push through,” Carswell said.

It’s an effort to help keep these mothers from drowning in their grief.

“There is no closure when you lose your child to homicide,” Anlage said.

“No parent is supposed to bury their child, it’s unnatural and it’s happening now more now than ever,” Coleman said.

At this time last year, there were 131 reported shootings in Jacksonville. This year, there have been 100—a slight decrease.

“How many more of our kids have to die?” Anlage asked.

The moms we spoke with don’t want any mother to experience their loss.

“I’m pleading for everyone to put down the guns, please,” Jones said. “You’re taking innocent lives at this point, and you’re destroying families.”

While this was an event born out of tragedy, many of the moms I spoke with say they were happy to be there – spreading love and hope to each other .