Mother's Day Memories, of a murdered son

Mother's Day is no longer a time to celebrate for Annette Nance-Holt.  Neither is her birthday, which falls a few days away.  In fact, the entire month of May is difficult for this mother.  Her son Blair was shot and killed three days before Mother's Day 2007. 

By all accounts Blair was a remarkable young man who died protecting a friend from a bullet fired at a CTA bus. Blair's father is a Chicago Police officer, his mother a Chicago Fire Department captain. Anyone who thinks "it'll never happen to my son," doesn't know Ron and Annette Holt.

In the three years that followed Blair's murder the Holt's have become tireless crusaders against the crime that grips many Chicago neighborhoods.  They give of their time and their hearts and stand in front of the cameras, re-sharing their pain each time they are asked in the hope their son's story will deter future killings.

That's where we found Annette Nance-Holt this year, on the eve of Mother's Day.  She was at St. Sabina church promoting the city's annual gun turn-in day where citizens are paid cash to hand in their weapons. "Getting another gun off the street might save another life," Mrs. Nance-Holt said. "Perhaps it will spare another mother the grief I suffer every day not having my son."

It's ashame it takes the promise of $100 on an untraceable MasterCard to get people to do the right thing, especially on Mother's Day weekend.

Comments

[Bobbie]

Mr.& Mrs Holt , My name is Bobbie Woods,I am very sorry for your loss. I understand your pain. I too loss a son Terrill in 2003. By the grace and comfort of God he has allow me also to reach out to other mothers and survivors of homicide victims. We started an orginzation and grief support group in 2003. Our orginzation is called Mamas Against Violence INC. We are faced with some of the same heart aches here in South Bend.I also go into schools, and speak with the media about violence that pledge our community. We are preparing for our Annual Anti-Violence March, and Memorial Program to be held May 22nd. It good to know that others are working to make a difference in this world and that loss of our children lives were not invane. We must work while it is day, for night comes when no man can work. We must never give up the thought that we can make a difference. God Bless you.