just B Present to your Presence
Permetha (Rudy) Milton
my new path .. new normal
I need prayer for daily strength on this new path, new normal.
My words as a grieving mother five years after the brutal murder of my only child, my son. July 19, 2015 is not a mere memory but a very vivid, unforgettable mental, and I beckon to say, physical impression of emotions.
This is the day I, Permetha (Rudy) Milton, received the most heart wrenching call a parent could imagine; your son has been shot. My heart raced - who? what? where? when? He’s only 17. Rising senior. How could this be? Minutes, hours, days, that followed were saturated with calls, texts, emails, home visits and television coverage in the beloved community of Hilton Head Island, a quaint Lowcountry resort town and barrier island of SC. Hilton Head, my son’s birthplace, his stomping ground, grade school to high school education happened here, he passionately loved playing the drums in addition to basketball and football here. Sadly, it is also where he prematurely lost his life by the hands of another teenager possessing a gun.
My son, Dominique Xavier Milton Williams, was a passionate percussionist. Drums were Dominique’s life! He absolutely loved playing drums in school as well as church — he loved to get people on their feet. Laying my son to rest did not terminate his legacy; I became determined to keep his cadence alive. I can still hear his double-stroke roll, I still imagine his outward display of his passion, his gift, I hear his chatter concerning a new technique - Dom, will always be with me. As a grieving mother, I knew I wanted to give back to the community. I wanted to help another child live out their dream, their passion of the arts. In harmony with family and friends that support Dominique’s dream of being a professional drummer, Dominique’s Musician Corner scholarship fund was established. Dominique’s Musician Corner scholarship fund provides annual scholarships to qualified students pursuing a post-secondary degree in Arts that reside in either Beaufort or Jasper counties in South Carolina or Chatham county in Georgia. Since its inception in 2016, scholarships have been awarded to 5 students.
Events are sponsored throughout the year in support of this endeavor. If you are interested in keeping Dominique’s legacy alive by supporting an award worthy high school graduate check out the website WalkforDom.org. Follow us on Facebook at Walk for Dom and Instagram.