Predators Survivor Hero

What kind of a person adopts 11 crack addicted babies and raises them all successfully as a single parent? What kind of a person is raped at the tender age of 14 year old and then goes on to graduate school with honors? What kind of a person goes out into dangerous neighborhoods to support, love, and inspire young people? Our Predators Survivor of the year, whose name just happens to be perfectly suited: Sunshine.

I spoke to this amazing woman on the phone and not only is Sunshine a precious, loving soul-but she's incredibly humble!

Sunshine told us that her life has been "everything but a bed of roses." However, she states, "Through praying and fasting, I was able to overcome many major obstacles that others may have lost their minds." She says that her strength is the result of growing up the daughter of two wonderful, loving parents, John "Big Hat" Lewis Sr. and Thelma Culpepper Lewis.

Sunshine's heart broke when she heard about eleven small children that were abused and neglected by their crack-addicted mother. Sunshine, at the time, was a 22 year old, single mom raising her son Geno on her own when she decided she would care for this woman's crack-addicted children. Sunshine raised and nurtured them all as her own in her tiny two bedroom apartment. For years, the government gave no assistance. Her income was about $600 a month but some how she managed to give each child a home, meals, clothing, education, and her unconditional love. She successfully raised Katrina, Aaron, DeAngelo, Brandon "Big Poppa", Monique, James I, James II, Nicole, Jametta "Blessing", Jamese, and Jamison. Sunshine beams, "Thanks, be to God, none of them are on drugs."

Sunshine's love for others did not stop there-she continued to reach out to other hurting children. She worked tirelessly to ease the pain of other children that have been victims of rape, violence, trauma, neglect, and abuse.

Sunshine formed the organization, "In Loving Memory of Our Children" (ILMOOC, Inc.), Sunshine's Angel of Mercy Foundation, and Sunshine's Public Relations & Artist Management, all designed to help children. For eight years, she has hosted "The Children's Celebration of Life Festival" at various city parks honoring the lives of the Missing & Murdered Children" which aired nationwide. Families have attended yearly as well as Homer Williams, father of accused killer Wayne Williams. She was told that this event helped bring back awareness to the city and was instrumental in the decision to reopen the unsolved cases. Sunshine has worked closely with local and federal law enforcement agents to provide grief counseling for innocent victims and family members. She has worked with a number of hostage negotiation crisis situations and has helped to form search teams for missing persons and children. Sunshine says, "During my tenure under the dynamic leadership of former Mayor Bill Campbell, I responded to just about every child crisis in the city of Atlanta for almost eight years." Sunshine was appointed by the former Mayor as the Director of the Youth Mobile Resource Center for the entire city of Atlanta, a roving unit that identified and helped to solve major crisis and problems in city's highest crime areas. On a yearly basis, she would encounter and mentor tens of thousands of young people.

She has become friends with many kids that were teen prostitutes, young drug dealers, drug addicts, thieves, and criminals. Some of these children may have never heard anything nice about themselves their entire lives but Sunshine says she "always has a kind, sweet word for each of them." When it seemed everyone else had given up on these kids, Sunshine was there to love and encourage them.

Sunshine was known in the media as "the children's guardian angel." It has been said, ÔWhen Sunshine walks the streets in the hood, the drug boys toss their dope bags, the addicts and alcoholics straighten up their swaying, the teen hookers pause on their stroll, and the gang bangers hide their weapons.'

"The healing began when I allowed God to use my bad experiences in life, to speak out to children and others, in hopes that they would see the good in their own lives." Sunshine sings, "The devil did it all for bad, but God turned it into good!"

Sunlight is a ray of light to everyone she has meets. She has rendered services tirelessly, without complaint, and free of charge, for over 35 years. For she believes, that her "witness is in Heaven, and her record will be there."

Her two motto's are: "No matter what you're going through, you can make it!" and "If I can help one somebody, then my living won't be in vain."

Sunshine has helped thousands of troubled kids find hope. She has made a difference in the lives of so many others by not allowing her pain to confine her to a world alone. She is a rare individual to show so much compassion to so many. We could write a book just on the trials she has overcome with her own life, her children's lives, and the many lives she's touched. To write a short article just can't encompass the amazing strength and the giving heart of this woman. Sunshine has warmed the hearts of all those around her. It's such an honor to know such a great soul. Thank you Sunshine for shining the light in the darkness and bringing hope to those that may never have know the meaning of the word had you not come into their life!

Are you a Predators Survivor Hero? Do you know someone that was a victim of crime and has moved beyond his or her situation to make a difference for others? If so, we want to hear from you about this true survivor! Please send your suggestions to us via our Contact Us page.

Resources for Healing

Written by P. Howard

Surviving traumatic events can have a great impact in our lives. Whether we are survivors of aggravated assault, child abuse, domestic violence, D.U.I. crashes, attempted murder or terrorism, the pain can be crippling. We are challenged with overcoming our physical injuries as well as the hidden injuries - the emotional consequences of violence. Several years ago, the National Victim Center identified nine potential problem areas crime victims and survivors might experience. The potential problem areas are physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, relational, employment-related, intellectual, media, and legal and judicial.

These areas are logical when considering the plight of crime victim survivors. Our physical injuries are obvious - we can SEE those wounds. But, our emotional wounds are not as obvious. The fear of being alone, anger, and rage at the perpetrator, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, are all common reactions to crime and violence. Financial problems may abound for survivors. Medical bills, counseling bills, funeral expenses, costs for re-locating, lost wages due to time lost from work are also common.

Many survivors experience a faith crisis after a traumatic, violent event. Survivors may question their faith and wonder why God allowed this to happen to them. Problems may continue and manifest in survivor's relationships. Diminished parenting capacity, no interest in romantic relationships, and decreased libido are also frequently experienced by survivors. Complicating the aftermath of crime for many victims is professional and employment-related problems. Time off from work to meet with police and prosecutors, participating in pre-adjudication, adjudication, and post-adjudication procedures such as arraignment, trials, and parole hearings can result in decreased wages, productivity, and negative work performance reports for survivors. Further complicating the recovery process for victims, is often intellectual challenges. Inability to concentrate at work, flashbacks of the crime, hyper-vigilance and exaggerated startle responses may also impact the survivor's work performance.

Another major problem experienced by victim survivors is media coverage of the incident. Often referred to as the "second injury" or the "second violation" the media and the courts can be very intrusive, insensitive, and callous. Media representatives usually do not seek victim's permission to print or air their stories. Victims experience the initial crime coverage in the media, additional coverage at the time of arraignment or trial, and also at the time of parole or re-trial. Event anniversaries may be newsworthy and again, survivors are frequently not contacted - neither to seek their permission nor their input.

The final, and one of the most significant problem areas, is the legal system. Often, crime survivors report being treated with less respect than a piece of physical evidence. Victim blaming is frequently a strategy utilized by defense attorneys, leaving victims feeling dismayed and angry.

Although these problems areas are accurate and challenging, there are many resources to help facilitate victim healing. Federal agencies, mental health centers, self-help organizations and advocacy groups are powerful resources to help overcome the problems and challenges of victim survival. There is no agency that can restore a victim to their pre-victimization state, but, there are numerous effective agencies that are available to help victims with short-term and long-term needs.

Please consider utilizing necessary resources to help overcome the many challenges of victim survival. Whatever our experiences - sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse - WE survived. WE WILL CONTINUE to survive. WE WILL HEAL.

Resources for consideration:

For grief recovery: Compassionate Friends, www.compassionatefriends.org

For catastrophic physical injuries: Mothers Against Drunk Driving, www.madd.org/victims

For trauma and depression: National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov

Survivors of Incest Anonymous, www.siawso.org

For information on all crime categories, referral resources, and compensation: U.S. Department of Justice-Office for Victims of Crime, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc

On our first anniversary!
Predators.tv would like to thank our newsletter contributors: Jeff McKissack, P.Howard, Holly Peacock Hickey, Tracey Ross, Capt. Don Larimore, Capt. G. McHone, Robert Taylor, Mike Gulyas, Carl Duke, and J.A. Hitchcock, Janet Lawson, and Matthew Upton.

It's impossible to list all those people that have helped us but please know we appreciate each and every single oneÊof our voluteers! Many thanks to our readers for all their support! Help us to help all of you stay safe from predators and to help continue to assist victims in healing!

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