My name is Evangelist Shanta Jackson, CEO/Event Coordinator, and along with the Gone But Never Forgotten Community Unity Day Committee, we are reaching out to our community, churches, businesses, organizations, leaders, family, and friends to ask for your support in making the Gone But Never Forgotten Community Unity Day & Violence Awareness Event a success.

The event will be held Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 12:00 PM–7:00 PM at South Side Park in Forrest City, Arkansas, and it will be FREE to the community.

This vision is very personal to me. On September 12, 2017, I lost my son, Diquan “PapperRouteQuan” Henry, to violence. Losing my son created a pain that words could never fully explain. However, God placed it on my heart to turn that pain into purpose and create something positive that would keep my son’s memory alive while also helping other families and our community.

Although my son is part of the reason this vision was born, this event is not only about my son.

Gone But Never Forgotten is for EVERY family who has lost a loved one to gun violence or another senseless act of violence. It is for the mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, relatives, and friends who continue carrying the pain of losing someone they love.

We want these families to know that they are not alone, their loved ones mattered, and their loved ones will never be forgotten.

Our mission is to bring people together for a day centered around healing, unity, prayer, violence awareness, positive youth engagement, family fellowship, community resources, and hope.

We are planning a day that will include:

* Free food and bottled water for the community

* Basketball tournament with a $500 first-place cash prize

* First-, second-, and third-place trophies

* Cornhole Toss Tournament with first-, second-, and third-place trophies

* Children’s games, activities, bounce house, and prizes

* Prayer and ministry tables

* Community speakers and resources

* Vendors and food trucks

* Music and entertainment

* A memorial tribute honoring loved ones lost to violence

One of the most meaningful parts of this event will be our Memorial Tribute, where families will have an opportunity to submit photographs of loved ones they have lost to violence. We want their faces and memories represented because every life matters.

WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

As a committee, we cannot accomplish this mission alone. We are asking anyone who believes in what we are doing to consider making a donation.

Funds raised will help with food, bottled water, trophies, the $500 basketball grand prize, children’s prizes and activities, security, DJ/sound expenses, event supplies, memorial materials, and other expenses necessary to keep this event free for the community.

No donation is too small.

Whether you are able to give $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or more, every dollar will help us move closer to making this vision a reality.

If you cannot make a financial donation, you can still support us by sharing this GoFundMe with your family, friends, church, business, organization, coworkers, and social media community.

We are not simply trying to put together another event.

We are trying to make a difference.

We want our children to see that there are alternatives to violence. We want grieving families to feel supported. We want churches, law enforcement, community leaders, businesses, young people, and families to be able to stand together peacefully for one common purpose.

We want to take a day that represents tremendous pain for many families and turn it into a day of PURPOSE, HEALING, LOVE, PEACE, AND UNITY.

My son may be gone from my sight, and so many other families are living with that same painful reality, but the lives of our loved ones will continue to matter.

They are GONE, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN. ️

On behalf of myself and the entire Gone But Never Forgotten Community Unity Day Committee, thank you for every donation, prayer, share, sponsorship, volunteer hour, and act of support.

One Community. One Voice. One Mission.

Together we can heal. Together we can change. Together we can build a better tomorrow.

With love and gratitude,

Evangelist Shanta Jackson

CEO/Event Coordinator

Arsenio Clinton

President

Krystal Weaver

Vice President

Pastor Ronald Broussard / Chief of Police

Spiritual Advisor

& The Gone But Never Forgotten Community Unity Day Committee