SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — One woman has worked to turn a source of pain into a source of community.
Donovan Holt, 33, was arrested in San Antonio, Texas in connection to his wife’s death more than a year after the 2023 incident. His wife, April Holt, was found unresponsive in the bathroom of the couple’s Antioch home with a plastic bag taped around her neck.
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April’s mother, Jamie Dickerson, advocated for justice for months following her death after it was originally listed as a suicide. However, Dickerson’s advocacy didn’t stop there. She decided to help others who were struggling to move forward after loss.
“I tell myself every day, ‘Well, God still has purpose. There’s still purpose,’” Dickerson said.
Dickerson invited News 2 inside her new grief center in Shelbyville. Inside there are clear signs of hope and joy. Those may not be the typical feelings in a grief center, but Dickerson said it’s an indication that her daughter’s presence is there.