Group Throws Birthday Party for Boy who Lost Mother, Grandmother in Shootings
Persha Chew, who lost her sister and mother to gun violence last week, was struggling on how to tell her young nephew that his mother was never coming home.
The 26-year-old Chicago South Side woman said she also wondered how to celebrate his birthday.
On Sunday, Chew received help. “Mothers Against Senseless Killings,” a group of mothers also known as MASK that helps patrol troubled neighborhoods, came to the rescue.
The group grilled chicken and had the Ninja Turtle live mascot at the outdoor party for Markyls Chew, 5, on the 5300 block of Aberdeen St.
“We are just trying to lighten the burden,” said Tamar Manasseh, the 37-year-old president of MASH. “You can’t make birthday plans when you have make funeral arrangements.”
On Sept. 28, Chew was carrying groceries into her home when her pregnant sister, Patricia Chew, and her mother, Lolita Wells, were fatally shot. Chew’s 11-month-old nephew, Princeton, also was wounded in the shooting incident, which left two other men wounded.
The group was getting out the car near Chew’s home when the shooting happened. Chew immediately ran to comfort Princeton, who was shot in his side.
Last week, Princeton was released from the hospital.
Princeton, celebrated his birthday on Saturday, at his father’s home.
A separate party was held for his older brother, Markyls, whose birthday was Sunday, at the MASK gathering outside Chew’s home.
MASK recently began patrolling the neighbor on Saturday in the Back of Yards neighborhood which – was in direct response to last week’s shooting. The group frequently serves food to break the ice with residents when it patrols neighborhoods.
Markyls, who also was at the site during the shooting but not injured, smiled as he had a big slice of cake during his birthday celebration.
“We are just trying to keep him in a good mood,” Chew said. “This is just a good random surprise.”
Chew said Markyls knows both his mother and grandmother were hospitalized. But the youngster doesn’t know they are dead, she said.
“I have to do what I have to do,” said Chew, a U.S. Postal worker. “I will tell Markyls about his mother and grandmother before their services.”
Visitation was scheduled for Tuesday night at Leak and Sons Funeral Home, 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave. A funeral service was scheduled at noon Wednesday at Light of Zion Church, 11636 S. Halsted.
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