ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Nearly nine years after two women were murdered in Albany, Dougherty County commissioners are honoring their lives while bringing attention to the lasting impact of domestic violence.

Commissioners presented a proclamation Monday (Oct. 19) recognizing Francis Nelson and Mamie Childs, whose lives were cut short in a 2017 double murder.

Earlier this year, Arelious Haynes Jr. pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Haynes Jr. attacked and killed the women with a hatchet in August of 2017 as children witnessed the violence. In May, he pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder and received two concurrent life sentences without parole, avoiding a possible death sentence.

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For the Nelson family, Monday’s recognition comes after years of grief and a long pursuit of justice.

Among those attending was Francis Nelson’s granddaughter, Amunet Nelson, who was just 7-years-old when she witnessed her grandmother’s murder. Now 16, she hopes sharing her experience will encourage other survivors to speak out.

“This is your story and it’s not your fault that it happened to you,” Amunet said. “I hope other victims step up and tell what they’ve been through so their story can be shared too.”

For Francis Nelson’s daughter, Cassenda Nelson, the proclamation is more than a recognition of her mother’s life... it’s an opportunity to raise awareness about how domestic violence affects entire families.

“Men and women experience domestic violence. You don’t have to be ashamed,” Cassenda said.

She also encouraged those experiencing domestic violence to consider how it affects their loved ones.

“When there are issues going on, it affects you and the people around you. So if you can’t find the power in yourself, think about the others it will affect,” she said.

Although the family’s yearslong pursuit of justice has ended, Cassenda hopes to turn their tragedy into an opportunity to help others.

“They loved their community and they loved us. So I want to mirror that love and give it back to the community,” she said.

While the proclamation cannot bring Nelson and Childs back, their family hopes keeping their stories alive will encourage others to seek help and prevent another family from experiencing the same tragedy.

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