KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The second Sunday in May is always the hardest for this group of women.
They meet weekly: some weeks, as few as 3 or 4, others, as many as two dozen. All gathering for fellowship and support.
While membership usually has its privileges, Lakisha Burgin would gladly turn in her membership card for another moment with her stepson Hollis.
“He picked up some guy, took him to the ATM. He shot him in the back of the head,” she said.
Hollis Roger Burgin III was 32 years old.
“It’s kind of hard to comfort in this time,” Burgin said. “And it reminds you of all the times you used to wipe their butt and tell them tie your shoe boy, and stuff like that.”
Since 2012, this particular meeting has always been over brunch.
Bridgette Johnson joined the club in 2015.
“2015 is when he gave me this card and these earrings,” she said.
Johnson’s son Anthony was also murdered.
“I love him and I’m fighting for justice and everything is gonna be alright,” she said. “He left me two babies, so that’s good.”
Burgin’s stepson also left a legacy behind that she clutches onto -- her grandson, Hollis’s son.
“All we can do is give him memories and pictures, but he will never get the bond of knowing his father because of senseless crimes,” she said.
Burgin said the pain is unimaginable.
“For a mother that has lost any child, there will never be a sense of peace until you see your child again, in heaven or on that other side," she said.
Until they reach that other side, they break bread together while hoping to one day say "No New Members."
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