Circle of Mothers retreat helps local mom heal
May 18—HIGH POINT — The circle of mothers Tenicka Shannon never wanted to join has now become a circle of mothers she never wants to abandon.
Shannon, the mother of fatal shooting victim Fred Cox Jr., spent the weekend at the annual Circle of Mothers gathering in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a retreat for mothers who have lost a child to gun violence. Founded by Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin — who was killed in a 2012 shooting incident in Florida that made national headlines — the retreat aims to empower participants and help them heal.
"It was an amazing weekend," Shannon said Monday after returning to High Point. "I learned so much, and the other mothers just loved on me all weekend."
In addition to meeting Fulton, Shannon met several other mothers whose sons and daughters died in controversial, nationally publicized incidents, including the mothers of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner and Sandra Bland.
"It was hard for me, because I think I was the only mother there whose child had died recently," Shannon said. "For most of them, it had been longer than a year, or even several years."
Shannon's 18-year-old son died Nov. 8, when he was shot to death by an undercover Davidson County Sheriff's Office deputy after a funeral at Living Water Baptist Church in High Point. More than six months later, the deputy has not been identified nor charged in the incident.
Shannon's niece, Ricquanda Pollard, contacted the Trayvon Martin Foundation about the retreat. After she shared the story of Cox's death, Shannon was invited to attend the retreat, all expenses paid. Pollard accompanied her aunt on the trip, though her expenses were not covered by the foundation.
Shannon said the other mothers at the event rallied around her and encouraged her to stay strong.
"They basically told me not to give up," she said. "They said, 'You've got to continue to fight, even when you feel like people have forgotten you. You've got to put your fighting shoes on and keep going.' They were really there for me."
In addition, Fulton talked to the mothers about the importance of self-care in a session that really resonated with Shannon.
"I was so focused on the detective who shot my son, and so focused on why District Attorney Avery Crump hasn't done her job and charged this man for shooting my child, that I forgot about me — I forgot that I matter, too," Shannon said.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm still pushing for justice for my son, but I need to properly take care of myself, too. In the midst of it all, I still have to live. I can't let the man who took my son's life take my life, too."
According to Shannon, the Circle of Mothers retreat went a long way toward helping her heal.
"I plan to go back next year," she said. "I'll have to pay next year, but I'll do whatever I have to do to save money and make sure I'm there. I never want to miss another one."
jtomlin@hpenews.com — 336-888-3579
jtomlin@hpenews.com — 336-888-3579
