Group helps families of murdered children

“At the particular time, you’re not able to focus on what you should and should not do and what your rights are as an individual,” Pierce said.

In February 1993, Pierce began the Families of Murdered Children Support Group to give people the help she lacked and to honor her son.

“The death of my son has to mean something,” Pierce said.

The group’s goal is to get families to the point where they no longer need the support group. The group helps families go to court, talk to police, make funeral arrangements and provides encouragement and counsel. One-on-one counseling is available by appointment. Group counseling is held from 1 to 3 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Guest speakers frequently include representatives of law enforcement, including judges, lawyers and police officers.

Membership in the group fluctuates. There are now 15 adults and 30 children. Pierce says the group is fuller at this time of year when the holidays remind families of absent loved ones. Families are able to provide support to each other at different steps of the process.

The group provides activities for all age groups.

Area art teachers volunteer their time to help children express grief creatively.

In the spring, the group will perform a play written by Pierce at the Urban League. The play will include perspectives from the siblings, parents and relatives of a murdered child to show how all are influenced by a single life and death.

Children are working on a picture frame project to coincide with the play performance. Frames are decorated with items, such as buttons from the shirts of lost loved ones, and pictures of the deceased are placed inside. These picture frames will be on display at the Urban League during the play.

Janet Meyers, social worker and assistant director of the group, holds movie nights for children under 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. every first Friday and every third Friday for children 11 to 17. Movie nights are for entertainment before the main meeting on Saturdays.

“Children have to learn laughing is not disloyal to the deceased,” Pierce said.

The group is looking for volunteers and donations. Pierce works a part time job to keep the group going and any donations are appreciated.

Call 422-5596 or 691 -7356 or visit the web site at http://fmcsg.tripod.com for more information.

They are at 4535 M.L. King Jr. Ave.