A year ago, my daughter made Saturday morning breakfast and went to wake her brother. We then discovered that my son had passed away in his sleep. It was what I thought was going to be the hardest thing our family would ever have to go through.

Unfortunately, that's not true. The devil attacked this family even harder on August 31st, 2025, Labor Day weekend. She was one of the two young women we lost out here in Altgeld Gardens on the far Southside of Chicago. My baby, Dajah Manning, smiled all the time and loved where she lived. She loved being a mom to her 6-year-old son. She enjoyed being involved with his school and teaching him after school. She and his dad have been together since high school, and they were great parents. They loved to spend time with the kids in my neighborhood, drawing with sidewalk chalk on Saturday mornings, playing red light green light, talking with the neighbors, and helping out when she could.

This is why this senseless murder hurts so much. For this woman to kill my daughter when she didn't even attack her and walked away from her and her friend. Dajah was shot in her back by people she considered friends and neighbors. My daughter's last words were, "They shot me," not scared but more confused, not understanding why.

Everyone loved my daughter. This has broken so many hearts out here in Altgeld Gardens. Our family is hurting ! And I have lost a child to people I let into my life. She took my daughter's life just to say she did.

I just would like to be able to give my daughter a beautiful celebration of her 26 years of life ceremony. The money would go to us to be able to give my daughter the beautiful ceremony she deserves. We thank you for whatever you can contribute to our family in our time of need.