"...I was forced to face the unbearable fact that my babies were not coming back..."

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bobby Cummings
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I had three sons, and my son Gregory called me one day and said Mom we lost them. I said, what do you mean we lost them? I learned on Feb.8, 2000, my twin 22 year-old sons Albade and Obadiah had been murdered while working on a car in Oakland. After one year I was still in shock and denial. Eventually, I was forced to face the unbearable fact that my babies were not coming back. I was lying on my sofa and I heard the Holy Spirit saying you can lay here and die here, or you can get up and live. What do you want to do? I said, Lord I want to live. I decided to reach out, I got up. I began knocking on doors and found Mother's doing worst than me. In 2008, I started 1000 Mother's to Prevent Violence as a legal non-profit organization. My healing continues, but I can say that I find more joy giving. There is nothing more rewarding to me than public service.

Ms. Lorrain Taylor, Combined Federal Campaign representative

Hometown: Dublin, CA

(Lorrain recently visited Beale Air Force Base, to promote the kick-off of the Combined Federal Campaign)

Everyone has a story...we dare you to tell yours.

To see more Faces of Beale: http://1.usa.gov/1CmKQX6