Three-hundred-and-thirty-four homicides occurred between January 1 and June 28 of this year, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.
Most of the homicides shared these commonalities: The victims were either black or Latino, mostly male, and their cases have yet to be solved.
If these incidents didn't become breaking news at the time, they at least made brief headlines. But few stories delved into how hundreds of Southland families were left coping and holding baggage — a burden Juanita S. Matthews and her husband Larry know well. But despite the heaviness of death's load, the Matthews are trying to turn despair into hope with their nonprofit Springs of Hope Grief Care Center.
Based in Long Beach, Springs of Hope offers an array of low- to no-cost grief care services, including various counseling options, workshops, grief support, and even assistance in facilitating funeral services. The center also offers training to people who have experienced a loss and wish to counsel and assist others.
"We even offer general assistance, which can include cooking, running errands, assistance in planning funerals and conducting ... any need associated with death and or the grieving process," Matthews said.
Though Springs of Hope only recently opened its doors, the inspiration for the center has been a long time coming for the Matthews, who felt inclined to help mend the broken hearted after experiencing their own heartbreak.
On Mother's Day in 1992, their son's wife murdered the Matthews' son and three grandchildren.
"It was very tragic. ... My family was devastated," Juanita said. "Not only by the loss but the way the loss came about. Parents just don't imagine that they will bury their children, and on top of that their grandchildren."
Devastating as it was for the couple, over the course of 18 years Juanita found refuge in forgiveness and helping others who also experienced loss.
"This passion came upon me to provide the help that we needed when we were going through our ordeal," Juanita said. "I never imagined we would be helping people like this. At the time, it was enough to just keep a straight thought, let alone come this far."
And far the Matthews have come, no doubt.
Since 1992 Juanita has facilitated numerous grief workshops at counseling centers and has worked with at-risk youth providing grief services.
"I've always wanted to open my own center," Juanita said. "So last year me and my husband finally made it official."
"It's been a joint progress for both of us," Larry said. "It's been a learning process for both of us. The process itself has been a journey of getting over the grief portion and actually seeing other people benefit."
Juanita has worked with Jocelyn Mull, whose name made headlines in 2008 after her son, 18-year-old Eron Michael Mull, was shot in West Los Angeles.
"I was numb as a result of my son's death," Mull said, looking down through her interlocked fingers at pictures of her son. "I didn't want to touch or be touched. ... Doctors said I was experiencing an existential crisis. I went into shock."
After experiencing a nervous breakdown and being hospitalized, Mull was put in contact with Juanita through a friend.
Mull says Juanita brought her back from the brink of destruction and despair.
"I was one cocktail away from killing myself," Mull said. "I had resigned from everything. Pastor Juanita saved my life."
Now, nearly three years since her son's death, Mull says she's ready to trust again.
"I'm starting to reconnect with the community," Mull said. "I'm starting to develop relationships with people again and I'm no longer on any medication."
Mull, like Juanita, plans to become a grief counselor.
"I'm committed to Springs of Hope," Mull said.
Brittany Polk, another one of Juanita's clients, said while she was skeptical of counseling at first, Juanita also helped her take the first steps in recovering from her father's death in 2009.
"Before seeing her, I was in shock and disbelief," Polk said. "I would be quiet and stay to myself. ... I felt like nobody knew what I was going through or how I felt. So I couldn't talk to nobody."
Polk said having someone to talk to who can relate to what you're going was a tremendous help.
"At first I expected her to ask a lot of personal questions, but she knew what I was going through so she just hit on what I was going through," Polk said. "It helps a lot to get counseling from someone who's been in your shoes; she knows how it feels and she's been where you're at."
It's an attribute of the program Juanita says makes all the difference.
"When you come through a difficult tragedy such as we did, and you come through it and you're healthy, not bitter, not on drugs or tranquillizers, people see your walk of faith and they see you as a resource," Juanita said. "One of the distinctions of Springs of Hope grief care is that, if you have lost a parent, then you will be counseled and guided by someone who has also lost a parent. We team people up with others who have experienced the same kind of loss."
Barbara Kimber, a friend of Juanita's for 30 years, said she is continuously amazed by Juanita's passion and gift for tending to the broken hearted.
"She helps them to understand that they have value and that there's destiny and purpose to their life," Kimber said. "With the counseling she provides she helps them to understand they don't have to give up on life because they've lost someone."
The most amazing thing is that one helps one, another helps another and so one. It's a cycle of healing that takes place, Kimber added.
Juanita Matthews is associate pastor of Prevailing in Christ's Ministries in Carson and the author of "Up From the Valley of Grief: Practical Insights into Pathways of Healing and Restoration," published in 2005.
India C. Allen is a writer for the L.A. Watts Times.
Photo of Jocelyn Mull by India Allen.
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