On April 17, the life of Sharon Jackson was shattered when she learned her son, 21-year-old Demius Jackson, had been shot in the back and died.

The Wallace Community College student, who was nearing the end of his degree at the school, had been shot in the early morning hours at G.W.C. Homes. He was rushed to Vaughan Regional Medical Center, but he could not be revived, as the injuries were far too severe.

Demius became yet another violent statistic in Selma, but his death has now spurred on his mother, her friends and community to do something about violence.

“We are going to stay on the battlefield,” Jackson said Saturday, speaking to the crowd gathered at the Selma High School baseball fields as part of the annual Smoke Out the Violence event hosted by Selma City Councilmembers Angela Benjamin and Sam Randolph. “It was a senseless act of violence that took my son. Every day of my life is tough, but with the Lord’s help, I’m going to make it through.”

Jackson has started the Save Our Youth Foundation that seeks to raise money and help programs designed to curb violence in Selma.

Recently, the group raised $1,000 and created a scholarship to Wallace’s welding program in honor of Demius Jackson.

“We are going to do something every year for the school and we are also going to do something with the summer programs,” Jackson said. “Anything dealing with youth, crime and violence, we want to help.”

In advance of Saturday’s event, Benjamin said this annual event also seeks to unite efforts of groups throughout the community and target a single goal of curbing violence.

“We have a lot of organizations and groups that are splintered and scattered,” Benjamin said last week. “We welcome anyone who’s already targeting this issue to come.

“It’s a glorious day when we can all get together in one place with the same focus and collaborate and move forward.”

This marks the second Smoke Out the Violence event. The first was held in 2009 in Ward 3. Council members have agreed to do this annually, rotating the event between the different wards.

— News Editor Rick Couch contributed to this report.