A Montgomery family is navigating a heartbreaking journey of love, loss, and perseverance after the untimely death of a young mother six months ago.
Nine children are now living in a two-bedroom home as their lives have been turned upside down following the passing of their mother, Lakeshia, from an accidental fentanyl overdose last May. Her sister, Kirsten Johnson, is now raising her two children along with her sister’s seven nieces and nephews.
Two local organizations, That’s My Child and A Better Montgomery, are stepping in to support this family and inspire others to help during the holiday season.
“I’m fighting so hard to get everything together and make sure everything is okay for the kids so they don’t have to leave us and enter foster care or a group home,” said Kirsten Johnson. Kirsten, along with her mother, Juliette Johnson, is raising her sister’s seven children while trying to maintain some normalcy for their lives.
Juliette Johnson shared her thoughts about her late daughter: “She was wonderful, very creative, and a people person. Many in Highland Gardens knew her. I hate the way she left us.”
Kirsten works part-time at Dollar Tree to support the family, but financial challenges are mounting. The two-bedroom house they currently live in is overcrowded, and meeting state requirements would mean having at least four bedrooms.
Finding a rental home has proven to be a difficult financial hurdle. “The financial means of trying to find a four-bedroom house quickly was a struggle,” Kirsten explained.
The children, ranging from five to sixteen years old, are facing their first Christmas without their mother. Nine-year-old Measia shared some fond memories of her mom: “My mama, she was a big, big, big Alabama fan, just like the rest of the family. One thing about my mama is, she was a very kind person.”
Charles Lee, founder of That’s My Child, heard about the family’s struggles and reached out to Ashley Gilbreath from A Better Montgomery to find ways to support them. A solution is on the horizon: the children will soon move into a four-bedroom rental house just down the street.
“They’re coming into this house with nothing. We’re trying to get them settled into this new home, and we could really use donations to help. We need a sofa, a dining table, mattresses—anything would be so appreciated,” said Gilbreath.
Kirsten emphasized how much this support means to the children: “God doesn’t make mistakes, and all the strength that He has given me, I try to give to the children. I want them to know that someone loves them, cares for them, and that we don’t want to lose them into the system. They are family, and they are all that we have.”
Charles Lee added: “This isn’t a black issue or a white issue. This is a community issue. When a community comes together, it gives a family the support they need. We are asking the community to step up and help this family.”
If you would like to support the Johnson family, you can donate items by contacting Ashley Gilbreath at [email protected] or reach out to That’s My Child at thatsmychildmgm.org. Additionally, A Better Montgomery has set up a Go Fund Me campaign for monetary donations to help this family during their difficult journey.
