Since the loss of her son in 2007, Holt knows about pain. She
common sense gun control that after a time fade away until the
experienced the most devastating pain of her life that changed
next tragedy. A shooting in a movie theater, an elementary school,
her life when Blair was killed on that CTA bus.
a historic African-American church, live on television.
“There’s not a day that goes by that he’s not on my heart or
But for every murder that captures the public’s attention for a
in my mind,” Holt said. “It doesn’t get any easier. It just gets a
time, thousands go unnoticed except by those left behind to
little different.”
mourn them.
That pain motivates her passion and purpose. Holt’s passion
was raising her son. Now it has become fighting the gun vioMy Faith Kept Me
lence that makes other mothers and fathers join the group that
The little girl wanted to be a princess. Her wish was granted for
nobody wants to be in—parents of murdered children.
her funeral. Purpose Over Pain bought her princess clothes when
In Chicago last year, there were 426 murders, the vast majorthe grandmother of the slain child told them that was her wish.
ity of them shootings and almost half of the victims between
It is just one of the support services that the group provides to
the ages of 13 and 24. There were about 2,500 shootings, acfamilies of murdered children as they walk with them through the
cording to published reports.
journey of losing a child. The group provides material and emoThe Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence reports altional support for famimost 300 Americans are shot in murders, assaults, suicides and
lies who have lost loved
accidents every day. Of those almost 300 Americans shot every
ones to violence.
day, 89 of them die. Every day, 5 children and teens are murLong after the funeral
dered as a result of gun violence, according to the Brady Camand the trial, if there is
paign.
one, the pain still lingers.
Holt and Blair’s father, Ronald, a Chicago police officer, were
“ There are some mothdetermined that their son would not die in vain. The Holts
ers who can’t see their
divorced in 2002 but worked together to raise their son. They
way out of this,” Holt
continue to work together
said. Some become clinito keep his memory alive
cally depressed, suicidal
and prevent others from
or turn to drugs, sex or
having to face the same
alcohol.
tragedy. In 2007, they
What kept Holt going
founded Purpose Over
was her faith in God. “I knew about God.
Pain. The Holts and
Had I not known about him I would have
members of the group are
been one of those parents too,” said Holt
determined that their purwho is a member of St. Sabina Church,
pose would overcome the
which is led by Father Michael Pfleger, a
devastating pain of their
vocal anti-violence and gun control advoloss.
cate.
“We decided we were
“My faith kept me believing that God
not going to let Blair die
would provide for me and he would make
in vain. We knew he
me strong and I would see my son again.”
The murder of her son Blair inspires Annette Nance-Holt’s
would not want us to
The support of other mothers in groups
work to end gun violence. Holt (center) and Blair’s father,
just die with him,” Holt Ronald, started the group Purpose Over Pain to support
like Parents of Murdered Children who had
said. “We had to fight
made it and who understood her pain also
parents of murdered children and prevent gun violence.
because this pain was the
helped.
type you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. We didn’t want
Holt bel