Grieving Relatives founder asks Rockdale County for support and publicizes March 22 wellness event

Betty Maddox Battle, founder of the Grieving Relatives homicide support group, used the public comment period at the Rockdale County commission meeting March 10 to ask for county support for families affected by violence and to promote a wellness event scheduled for March 22.

“My name is Betty Maddox Battle. I am the founder of a homicide support group,” she told commissioners, describing the organization as a resource for grieving relatives of victims of gang, domestic and gun violence. She asked the county and residents to offer support and resources for young people and grieving families, and she urged partnership with county staff and volunteers.

Battle said the group needs community support and promoted a March 22 event she described as a wellness ambassador guide and leadership program; she provided the group’s website, grievingrelatives.org, for more information. “You do not have to lose someone to violence, to grieve,” she told the board, urging broader community engagement.

Chair thanked Battle for returning each year to speak in honor of her son; no formal county action was taken on the comment during the meeting.