Lee County mother grieves late daughter who died by suicide, how she's helping other families

A Lee County woman continues to lift up her daughter’s memory with an annual fundraising cookout.

Three years ago on Thursday, Latishea McAuley’s 18-year-old daughter, Sierra, took her own life.

Since then, McAuley has been on a mission to fight mental illness among young people.

For the past 3 years, McAuley prepares for "Sierra Day," a cookout fundraising event held at Cameron Grove AME Zion church in the the town of Broadway.

To attract financial donations, she created many trinkets and T-shirts bearing her daughter’s image.

"She was vibrant, outgoing," McAuley said of her late daughter. "You know, full of life, and loved her nephews."

Sierra struggled with mental illness including bipolar disorder, ADHD and OBD, or "oppositional defiant disorder."

'I go through an emotional rollercoaster': Lee County mother recalls losing her daughter by suicide

She’s far from alone.

"I have met with adults and parents dealing with the same thing," McAuley said.

That’s why McAuley and the nonprofit she created now partners with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to help other families. That’s the purpose of the annual "Sierra Day Cookout" with many keep-sake items to attract donations.

"Because I noticed that it’s a lot of people out here that don’t have, they can’t afford insurance or go to therapy or to afford their medications," McAuley said.

McAuley now shares her experience with losing Sierra as a warning.

"Question your child," she said. "Talk to your child, get to know your child. No one is exempt from this; Black, white, colored, green or orange."

Now, the closest McAuley can get to her daughter is at her gravesite and by sharing Sierra’s story with others.

"To keep her memory alive because, she would say, ‘Mama, my name is going to be in lights someday,'" McAuley said.