06/02/2026
FRIENDS RALLY TO RAISE THOUSANDS TO HELP GRIEVING MOTHERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF SUNDAY'S TRAGIC DROWNINGS. MONTHS AFTER THE FUNERALS END, PAIN WILL LINGER: In the agonizing quiet that has followed a tragic Sunday evening on the Ouachita River, a grieving community is stepping forward to wrap its arms around two local mothers.
The drowning of 10-year-old Ja’Oni Williams and her best friend, 9-year-old Ja’Candis Owens, on May 31 has left families devastated and a neighborhood in deep mourning. But as the initial shock transitions into the stark reality of loss, friends, neighbors, and strangers are mobilizing to help the families navigate a financial burden that extends far beyond the immediate costs of a funeral.
For Jere Williams and Jazmin Gipson, the mothers of the two young girls, the road ahead is fraught with emotional and logistical hurdles. Community advocates point out that the financial toll of such a sudden tragedy ripples through every aspect of survival: unexpected costs for grief counseling to help surviving siblings cope, the abrupt loss of work income as mothers try to emotionally recuperate, and the daily expenses of keeping a household running while paralyzed by grief.
On Sunday, the two inseparable best friends had been enjoying a neighbor’s water-slide party with other neighborhood children earlier that afternoon. According to Jazmin Gipson, the water fun took a fateful turn when the two girls decided to head toward the river’s edge.
Ja’Candis’ 11-year-old brother, sensing the danger, followed them on his bicycle to warn them. As he turned to park his bike, he heard his sister and her best friend screaming from the water. In a desperate and heroic bid to save them, the young boy jumped into the river, only to find the water instantly up to his neck. Barely managing to pull himself out of the treacherous current, he ran home to alert his mother.
"In a panic, I ran to the edge, screamed for help, called 9-1-1, and felt my heart drop," Gipson recalled.
First responders and local search and rescue teams acted swiftly, utilizing specialized dragging equipment to locate the children before the river’s current could carry them further downstream. It took two hours for rescuers to recover both victims.
Through her unimaginable heartbreak, Gipson expressed a painful gratitude that the tragedy was not even larger. "As sad as it is, I thank God that both of my children did not drown," she said.
The heartbreak is spilling across social media, and the community is refusing to let these mothers suffer alone. Those who feel their pain are contributing to two separate GoFundMe accounts established to provide a lifeline for the families.
As of Monday evening, the Williams family has raised $17.192 toward the unexpected expenses following Ja'Oni’s tragic passing.
Meanwhile, Gipson has issued a heartfelt appeal to the community as she faces the reality of burying her young daughter and supporting her surviving son through the trauma which may take months.
"My name is Jazmen Gipson. I am the mother of one of the little girls that drowned in the river on May 31," she shared. "I am asking for any support to help with grief counseling and funeral services. I never thought that I would be burying my child as a child. So I’m asking for our community to come together. If God puts it on your heart to help, please help. Anything will help."
The fund for Ja’Candis Owens has reached $13,503, with organizers hoping the momentum will continue to grow to ensure both families have the time and space to grieve without the immediate threat of financial ruin.
For those who wish to support the families with funeral costs, counseling services, and standard living expenses during this period of lost work and deep mourning, donations can be made directly to the verified online funds:
The Ja’Oni Williams Fund: https://gofund.me/6bdb5b472
The Ja’Candis Owens Fund: https://gofund.me/5153c4730
