Mother’s Day can be extremely hard for those who have experienced the loss of a child, and a group of Chicago moms are offering each other support this weekend.
Dozens of moms came together Saturday to support one another on their healing journey at a Mother’s Day brunch and tea party at St. Sabina Church on the South Side.
Organizers said the goal is to bring comfort, joy, and healing in the face of tragedy.
“Mother’s Day is a hard day for moms and for myself, still even though it’s 20 years later, it’s a struggle,” said Pam Bosley, co-founder of Purpose Over Pain.
Bosley and her friend Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt co-founded Purpose Over Pain after losing their sons to gun violence.
“I lost my only child Blair Holt,” she said. “I think being with other mothers you could laugh, you could cry, you could talk about your child without people looking at you, saying aren’t you over that by now, no, we’re never over it, but we keep speaking our children’s name.”
Mothers from across the Chicagoland got a chance to connect turning their pain into purpose with a sip of healing at a tea event this weekend.
“We know they can never come back, but they’ll always be in our hearts,” said Renee Carter, who lost her son to gun violence.
Donna Jones said being part of the support group helps her to cope with the death of her son.
“Every day, every time I come to a meeting just to talk and share and they listen,” said Jones.
The room was filled with love and support with mothers lifting each other up as some of them continue to seek justice in their child’s unsolved case.
“Everyday is a challenge and my son’s fifth year anniversary is coming up June 4th so it’s very hard,” cried Tarmara Felton.
Felton says she knows justice will be served one day in her son’s case, and this Mother’s Day she’s thankful for the network of support.
“They know what I’m going through because we’re all going through the same thing and some not only lost one, but two or three children so it’s very good, the support, we could call each other, we do outings, the support like this is amazing,” said Felton.
