Logan Kwanzaa Celebration to Honor Former Student Murdered in October

James Logan High School’s Black Student Union is dedicating their annual Kwanzaa celebration this Thursday to the life of a former student found slain in Georgia two months ago. 

Shevonta Hardwick, a 23-year-old class of 2007 graduate, died from multiple gunshot wounds the morning of Oct. 31 inside her home in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville, GA, according to CBS Atlanta. Alleged murder suspect Courtni Thomas, 25, was arrested the following day in Iowa with a handgun, the Associated Press reported.

According to LaChanda Moore, Hardwick’s sister, Hardwick and Thomas were dating and living together at the time of her death. 

Moore believes her little sister’s murder was the result of domestic violence. Moore said that she learned after the fact that police had been called to the home on multiple occasions for disturbances and that Hardwick was trying to leave Thomas. 

Last month, Moore established the Shevonta Hardwick Her Story Foundation to raise awareness for domestic violence. “I want people to know her story. I want people to educate themselves about domestic violence,” she said.

During her funeral last month, Hardwick’s former track and field coach Lee Webb and Black Student Union advisor Dorothy Allen proposed to Moore the idea of holding Thursday’s event in her honor.

“I just started crying,” Moore said.

Hardwick, a track runner and Logan volleyball captain, was highlighted by the Fremont Argus in 2007 for overcoming tragedy and graduating high school. Hardwick’s mother had died from an accidental pill overdose her freshman year. The tragedy was followed by Hardwick’s high school boyfriend being killed in a shooting when she was 16.

“She continued to go to school and focus. She excelled tremendously. She achieved all of her grades and everything,” Moore told Patch. “She didn’t want to give up, she wanted to further her education.”

After graduating from Logan, Hardwick got offers from various colleges but was insistent on attending Clark University in Georgia, where she was studying business.

Hardwick was determined to succeed in life, Moore said.

“She always said she wanted to be the female Bill Gates,” Moore told Patch.

In 2007, Hardwick told the Argus that said she planned to travel the world by the time she was 26. And she was very well on her way.

Hardwick was working at Delta Airlines and had just earned a promotion to become a flight attendant before her life was tragically cut short.

On Thursday, donations will be collected in Hardwick’s honor with all proceeds going to a local domestic violence shelter, according to Moore.

Thursday’s event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Logan Cafeteria. The event will also feature food, entertainment and a Kwanzaa candlelighting ceremony.

The public is encouraged to attend.

For more information about Shevonta Hardwick, like her Facebook memorial page #JusticeForShevonta or follow @OfficialShevontaPage on Twitter.

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