This morning at the airport..I was slightly distracted by the typical craziness that goes with traveling with a 2.5 yr old and 10 month old…..but as I sat on the plane..sienna sleeping in ben’s arms..and sophia coloring next to me..I took a picture of their cuteness then had a moment and I thought to myself….i’m flying back home to atlanta to go to my best friends funeral instead of 2 weeks later for our kids to play together like we had planned.
it all seemed surreal. we were going to take them to the pool and just hang out in charlotte at my parent’s with my sister and her kids. it was our vacation for the summer.
But this is a much different trip then we planned.
We just arrived to charlotte. Driving to Atlanta tomorrow morning.
Everyone is sleeping but me.
(sienna included. she’s in my lap a sweaty sleepy baby.)
I walked into my parent’s house thinking of how shannon had said
“I’LL DO ANYTHING TO SEE YOU!” and was going to drive here from atlanta.
I thought about how we would have gone “hey girllllll!”
hugged and swapped babies to squeeze on.
But Ben showed me an article on his phone..
and it made me feel somewhat stronger.
Her life and death are already making a
change in our world for the better….
“The death of Shannon Lawrence–one of several deadly incidents blamed on domestic violence across metro Atlanta this past weekend–has prompted the Cherokee Family Violence Center to call for a discussion with judges, prosecutors and law enforcement about ways to better protect victims of domestic violence.” – Rodney Thrash of canton-ga.patch.com
The following article is by Rodney Thrash of canton-ga.patch.com
“The executive director of the Cherokee Family Violence Center pored over the court files of Shannon Lawrence, the 25-year-old Canton woman who died after Sunday’s fatal custody swap in Milton
The files, Meg Rogers said, revealed a woman who was afraid.
The files, Meg Rogers said, revealed a woman who was afraid.
“She’s reporting it to law enforcement,” she said. “She’s reporting it to the court. She says in her court pleadings he has guns” and asks authorities to remove all weapons from her ex-boyfriend’s Cumming home.
That ex-boyfriend, 25-year-old Christopher Erdman, is now in the Fulton County Jail, accused of shooting Lawrence four times in the face and neck in front of their children.
For more than 25 years, the Cherokee Family Violence Center in Canton has assisted battered women. Lawrence was one of them, according to records in Forsyth County.
“So often,” Rogers said, “people ask, ‘Oh, why don’t they leave? Why didn’t they call the police? Why didn’t she get a restraining order?’
“We could not have asked for anybody to have done more than what it looks like she did. This woman was really let down by the system.”
The death of Lawrence–one of several deadly incidents blamed on domestic violence across metro Atlanta this past weekend–has prompted the Cherokee Family Violence Center to call for a discussion with judges, prosecutors and law enforcement about ways to better protect victims of domestic violence.
No meeting has been scheduled yet, but Rogers said protective orders have to be stringent. Lawrence had one in Forsyth County that was dismissed in March for a weaker, consent restraining order in Cherokee. Erdman, Lawrence and their attorneys all agreed to it, as indicated by their initials in court filings.
Three Fridays ago, Lawrence told the Cherokee County Superior Court that she feared for her safety. Under the protective order, the consequences are more severe and Erdman would have been arrested for aggravated stalking.
But with the consent restraining order, Erdman was just summoned to appear before Cherokee County Superior Court Judge Anthony Baker on June 15 – next Wednesday.
It wasn’t the only missed opportunity authorities had to protect Lawrence, Rogers said.
Baker gave Erdman, who served Lawrence with paternity papers in January, “liberal” visitation with the couple’s children on the same day the consent restraining order went into effect.
“I mean this man, according to Shannon’s petition, was sending a 100 emails, stalking her, violating orders, had access to guns, had a concealed weapons permit,” Roger said. “We certainly want to look at our protocol in Cherokee County, at the way abusers can use the judicial system to gain access to victims.”
Baker is out of town and could not be reached for comment. Rogers said she doesn’t blame anyone in particular.
“Where I see where the system really confused this issue is treating this just like any normal civil case,” she said. “Almost ignoring the domestic violence and the stalking.”
In addition to murder, Erdman faces a number of other charges: felony murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and two counts of cruelty to children.”
I love and miss you so much..You may be gone from me for now..but you are still transforming the world! seeing that real change could happen for others experiencing domestic violence gives me hope and joy knowing your life and death can save the lives of a generation. I feel immeasurably blessed to have had her as a friend…and I know that her work here on earth is just getting started. I am heartbroken that it ended like this for her.. i kept waiting for my sister to tell me that she was at the hospital..to come down and see her to cheer her on to get better. But she is in a better place..she is safe now and at peace.
My mom and I were in the kitchen…talking about what we should do.. she pulled out a brownie mix. and i said yes.. if shannon was here..we would so make brownies right now. :) i love you. rest in peace.
Thank you for your prayers, e-mails, comments.. I have felt such love from you during this difficult time..( friends and complete strangers!) I can never thank you enough. Many of you have shared your hearts with me.. some of you having experienced loss or been effected in some way by domestic violence. As women..mothers..it is moments like this that I can reallyyyy see your amazing hearts. thank you for caring…for sharing this grieving with me… crying with me… and listening to me as I share my heart to heal.
So many of you wonderful loving people have asked how you can help Shannon’s children, and the family is awestruck by this outpouring of generosity for these two children and Shannon’s memory. If you wish to contribute, simply click on the “Donate” button to make a secure donation through Paypal.
To read all posts related to Shannon you can click here.
Please share her story..donate if you can.
If you have been touched by her story and would like to
visit her Memorial Page you can visit here.
Please Pray for peace in our world
and for all those affected by Domestic Violence.
Evelien
June 8, 2011 at 3:38 pmIt just makes me sad that anyone would have to go through this…
I can’t imagine this happening to me, but even if I try to imagine it, it makes me cry like a baby…
Keep strong!!
Praying for you!
Meri @ twofive365
June 8, 2011 at 3:39 pmI am so so sorry about your loss. She looks like she was an amazing woman, mother, and friend. Hopefully the law will start to take domestic cases more seriously, and they should be ashamed that it has taken so much loss of precious life to take notice. :(
Just the 3 of Us
June 8, 2011 at 4:17 pmI am so sorry for your loss.
I lost a wonderful friend a few months ago in a similar way…it was a domestic abuse situation and he came back to the house. She left two small children as well.
My heart goes out to you.
Jean
June 8, 2011 at 4:28 pmSo many people grieving that just get lost in it all. Shannon’s grandma Cantebury is a very good friend of mine and like everyone else, is trying to make sense of all of this. Joan is not only hurting for her granddaughter, she is hurting for her child, Diana, who is going through the loss of her child. So many hearts need to be mended. Maybe in her senseless death, some good will come out of helping victims of abuse. God bless you, I know how bad you are hurting.
Ashlee
June 8, 2011 at 4:39 pmI’m so sorry for your loss. I wish there was something more for me to say but I am at a loss for words because I simply can’t imagine what you are going through. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Cecilia
June 8, 2011 at 4:42 pmThank you Natalie for keeping us abreast of things. I think about you, your family and her sweet children often. My heart aches for you all.
Anonymous
June 8, 2011 at 6:27 pmNatalie,
I somehow was re-directed to your blog after reading of your dear friend’s death on Jane Mays FB…I am truly sorry for your loss…no one should have to endure this type of pain…I pray for you her friend and her two children…at least you know she is wrapping in the Lord’s loving hands…God Bless you, Pam Dailey Mulinix
About Mrs. G
June 8, 2011 at 6:29 pmMy heart greaves for those sweet babies of hers. She is in her father’s arms now.
Jen
June 8, 2011 at 6:50 pmWhat a horrible situation for her to have been in and for her children to be left without her in the world. At least her babies will know her love through you. So sorry for your loss. Praying for you and her little ones.
Randy Lawrence
June 8, 2011 at 7:23 pmThanks for being there for Shannon all these years. Hope to see you soon.
Sandy Toe's
June 8, 2011 at 7:49 pmBreaks my heart…
Megan
June 8, 2011 at 10:50 pmPraying….praying…..praying <3
Dana Smith
June 9, 2011 at 8:18 amHi – We don’t know each other but I just wantd to say that my heard really goes out to you. I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling and I feel so sad for Shannon’s babies. They are still babies. I lost my mom at 29 right after I gave birth to my oldest child (within 10 days) and I think you always need your mother. I know that you will keep Shannon’s memory alive for her children. Make sure you always keep in touch with them and support them. Trust me when I say it will mean the world to them. They will need the support of everybody now. Take care! Time will help your grief but you will always miss her!
Joeylee
June 9, 2011 at 3:28 pmI’m so sorry to hear about your friend. Such a heartbreaking thing. I’ll be praying for you and her family and her babies, just so sad
Bree@ 700sqftDesign
June 11, 2011 at 12:03 pmMy heart is broken for you, I’m so so sorry for your loss. I’m so sad for those children, you are in my prayers.
Mon
June 13, 2011 at 4:08 pmOh Natalie, I just read about this! I am SO sorry this happened, its so tragic and horrible and leaves me speechless. Those poor children!
Am thinking and praying for you all in this very difficult time. Thank you for your posts.
xx
Elizabeth Crum
April 8, 2014 at 10:02 pmI have been reading through some of your posts about Shannon. I am so sorry for everything you have had to go through. I understand from my own experience that the legal system does not really help the victims of domestic abuse. My mom has been going through a divorce and trying to get away from her abuser. Throughout the entire process the judge has basically ignored the abuse. I wish there was more we could do to change this! Just wanted to let you know that your story really touched my heart. Here is a link to my story if you feel like reading. Not near as horrible as what you have experienced but I fear that it would have gotten worse if she stayed and I still fear for the future.
http://cnecrum.blogspot.com/2013/12/domestic-violence.html
-Liz