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Mother giving backpacks, school supplies to mark murdered son's birthday

The Battle Creek mother has tried to do other things in memory of her son, Frank Williams II, including giving away candy at Halloween and a Christmas party for children.
Rosetta Brewer is giving school supplies to children of homicide victims. (Photo: Trace Christenson/The Enquirer)

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - A Battle Creek mother will give to others Monday on her dead son's birthday.

Rosetta Brewer has planned a birthday party for her son, Frank Williams II, to provide backpacks and school supplies for children who lost a parent to homicide.

"He always loved the kids so I am going to do a backpack give-a-way in memory of Frank Williams," Brewer said Wednesday.

Williams, who was shot and killed on Jan. 9, 2006, would have been 38 years old on Monday. No one has been arrested in the shooting.

Brewer said she has tried to do other things in memory of her son, including giving away candy at Halloween and hopes to organize a Christmas party this year for children.

"This is not going to bring (him) back to me but I am trying to make a change. Here is something to help somebody a little bit. I hate to see anyone go through what I went through," she said.

Monday's event will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Claude Evans Park Playground at 300 N. Washington Avenue.

She has 50 backpacks and other supplies including pencils, crayons, glue, index cards and erasers which will be given to the children of homicide victims and to other children in need.

She also will provide hot dogs and chips and birthday cake and hopes to have a softball and basketball game.

Rosetta Brewer is giving school supplies to children Monday on the birthday of her murdered son. (Photo: Trace Christenson/The Enquirer ,)

Brewer said she and other mothers of victims and community members raised the money for the supplies and the party.

"She is always doing things like this," said family friend Damon Brown. "She is always involved with the kids and helping out the mothers."

Brewer said she would like to organize a group of mothers and family members to raise money to help those who are victims of homicides.

"Some don't have money or life insurance to even bury their child," she said.

Brewer was once involved more than 10 years ago with a group called Families for Peace but interest waned, she said.

"But I want to start a group with mothers and this is my kick-off for it. We have some mothers who want to be involved and we will start off small and become bigger," she said. "We would like to be able to get out there and make a change with the younger kids."

Brewer said her vision is to gather with other similar groups in places like Lansing, Grand Rapids and Detroit and "march to Lansing and Washington to change the justice system."

She praised others in Battle Creek, like India Bowser, who has been instrumental in bringing attention to unsolved homicides. India Bowser's brother, Joseph Bowser, was shot and killed on March 23. His case also remains unsolved.

"She is an inspiration and I have told her not to give up," Brewer said.

Brewer and Brown said the city and the police department can help reduce the violence but that the families and residents must do more.

"We need them to be in this but can't let city hall or police control it," she said. "It is a community thing and we need to get back with community support. We need to do it as a community.

"We are one community and enough is enough," she said. "Innocent people are getting shot."

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson.

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