2 years after Mahogany Jackson’s death, mother hosts awareness event
Gail Shearer hopes to give back with the ultimate goal of encouraging kids to make positive choices
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - This week marks two years since the brutal kidnapping and killing of 20-year-old Mahogany Jackson. Eight people were charged in her death. Now, her mother is working to ensure no other family endures the same tragedy.
Mahogany’s mother, Gail Shearer, hosted a Legacy and Youth Awareness event on Friday. She invited students from Smith Middle School, the same school Mahogany once attended.
Shearer said her goal is to reach children early and encourage them to make positive choices.
“Bringing awareness and prevention from this happening to somebody else’s child,” Shearer said.
Shearer says she decided to start with students at her daughter’s former middle school because she believes education and intervention must begin young.
Police said eight people abused and tortured Jackson for hours. Investigators said no one tried to stop the violence or call 911.
Shearer said the event is one way she hopes to help students avoid situations like the one that led to her daughter’s death.
“No one wins in this situation. I not only want to bring awareness to not being the Mahogany in this situation. I don’t want any of these students to become those people. Because it had to start somewhere, they got lost somewhere along the way. Whatever I can do to prevent that, I am going to do it,” Shearer said.
Shearer also invited other speakers to share messages of hope and accountability. One of them was Pastor Damon Davis of Collective Community Church. Shearer first connected with Davis through his prayer line shortly after her daughter was killed. She later learned he was facing a similar loss. Davis lost his 27-year-old son to gun violence around the same time.
“If I can turn this story and do anything to assist Gail and turn the story of my son outwardly so that it preserves the life of another youth or another person, it is more than a pleasure. It is more than an honor to be able to do that,” Davis said.
Shearer said she plans to continue hosting events and speaking to students in hopes of turning pain into purpose.
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