MOMCC FOUNDER
Malissa Thomas-St. Clair
Malissa Thomas St. Clair is the Founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children and lead of the Mother’s Division. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and has been a Columbus City Schools educator for 24 years.
Malissa’s loving husband works in the criminal justice field and she has two sons and two God-grandsons. The oldest, Anthony, was murdered at 22-years-old in Columbus on April 29, 2013. Neiko recently turned 18 and is a 2021 graduate.
Malissa is an avid believer in the Christian Faith and has accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior. Guided by Faith principles, Malissa has always enjoyed serving the community.
Motivated by a murder of a two year old in her community alongside her son's untimely death, she posted on Facebook August 12, 2020, that enough was enough with the violence in the city. This post attracted Co-Founder, Karla Harris, and a private Facebook group was created. The group now has over 2.1 k members and counting.
My children, and grandsons are the heartbeat of my mission. I believes it is imperative I become a fierce force to be reckoned with in the mission to re-imagine the safety of our city.
oUR TEAM
CO-FOUNDer
Karla Elliott-Harris
Karla Elliott-Harris is Co-Founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children. She leads the Children’s Division--ages 11-14. Her goal is to be a voice for those in her age group--20s-30s. Karla aims to stand by all the mothers who have lost a child to violent crime in Columbus. Her efforts will show every mother that there are people who care and are willing to fight for all the souls that are gone too soon.
My main goal and mission with the organization Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children is to be a voice for those in my age group 20s-30s. I want to stand by all the mothers who have lost a child during the spike in violence in this community. Allow each and every mother to know THAT WE DO CARE! I am willing to fight this fight for all the souls that’s been lost.
Jacqueline Casimire is the lead of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children’s Adult Division--ages 19+. Her son, Ray (Cash) Casimire, was murdered on September 24, 2020. Jacqueline was looking for a way to fight violence prior to Ray’s murder. She is determined to develop a way to get illegal guns off the streets. Jacqueline desires to support other mothers through their journey of loss, grief, and living with the tragic loss of a child through murder.
Jacqueline says, “We are going to be a voice to be reckoned with. Boots on the ground, suits in the corridors of justice.”
I am the mother of Ray (Cash) Casimire murdered September 24, 2020. I was looking for a way to fight the violence prior to my son's murder. I am determined to find a way to get the illegal guns off the streets, and to be a support to other mothers as well. We are going to be a voice to be reckoned with. Boots on the ground, suites in the corridors of justice.
DIVISION LEAD
Jacqueline Casimire
BRANDBASSADORS
Mechelle Monroe
Hello my name is Mechelle Monroe. On June 16, 2009 my 18-year-old son Bernard Hawkins died as a result of gun violence in Columbus Ohio.
After the loss of my son I went through every aspect of grief. The highs and lows and everything in between. I felt lost out of place lonely and I still my soul was empty. I felt as though no one understood my feelings or the pain I was experiencing. I tried counseling that worked for a while. But after years battling grief I kept thinking there needs to be some where for people like me who is battling daily struggles from the loss of their child. I felt like I needed to do something so that my sons life wouldn’t be in vain.
One day I stumbled upon a post that Melissa Saint Claire shared it was in that moment watching her I said this is it this is something I need to be a part of. On September 25, 2020 I sent Melissa a message and asked her if I could become a member of her group Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children She welcomed me with open arms. She invited me to join in a stop the gun violence gathering. The gathering took place on October 17, 2020, it was a very moving experience for me to see other mothers gathered around embracing each other looking at photos of our children just being out in the community pouring out love,that was amazing for me to experience. Ever since that day I felt inspired to share my thoughts and feelings and my story with other members of the group concerning the loss of my son.It gives me great pleasure to share my journey with other mothers as well as other members of the group. It’s a sisterhood a place where we can come and feel loved and safe and not judged. We are there for each other.The group is a place where we can all offer advice, be a shoulder to lean on and offer comfort to one another we share our experiences that we have been through and things we are going through daily.
We share pictures of our love ones lost we uplift each other. We do anti peaceful gun violence covering letting communities know someone cares about them and the violence going on in their neighborhood.
In the group there’s daily post about job opportunities,community resources and different programs available to members. Melissa keeps us updated on the murders going on daily, she also gives daily briefings to inform us of things that’s going on and shares general information that we may need to know.
Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children is a very awesome group to be in if you have lost a Child..
Malissa and her crew do an amazing job of being there for us mothers letting us voice our feelings and be a support system for each other. I am very thankful for the group.
Community Support Volunteer lead
My name Jene’ Patrick I am a single mother of three beautiful daughters from Columbus, Ohio. I know what it’s like to lose someone to the senseless violence that is plaguing our communities. Forced to grow up to fast, in a drug infested environment, I have made it my mission to educate parents on what they expose their children to. MOMCC has given a voice to me, because our fight is one and the same, to save our children, and restore foundations built on love! It is an honor to stand side by side in this fight with them! We desire to be the change we want to see in our community!
Jene Monique Patrick
Community Support Volunteer lead
PASTORIAL OVERSEER
Pastor Niki Hampton
LEAD WITH PURPOSE
FISCAL AGENT
Business Partner
Financial Advisor
Grant Writing Support Team