Honoring HER sun, RYAN R. ROWE

My name is Brandy Olivis. I was born and raised in Columbia, SC, with my twin sister and two older siblings, Ericka Williams and Darieon Williams. I am a mother to three young men, Teran M. Rowe, Trenton Rowe, and Ryan R. Rowe, and a grandmother to one grandson.

I graduated from Columbia High School in 1997, and in 2009, I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Management from South University. Professionally, I have been an employee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina for over 10 years, where I currently hold the position of Business Analyst II.

On April 9, 2022, my son, Ryan Rowe, was murdered due to gun and teenage violence. Ryan had just celebrated his 16th birthday on March 29, 2022. My heart, mind, and soul were numb to the heartbreaking death of my son. Instead of constantly focusing on what I could have done as a parent to prevent my son’s senseless death, I decided to redirect my thoughts, energy, and anger towards a solution-based initiative to honor my son while also helping other parents avoid burying their child due to gun violence. I believe that by focusing on academic achievement and intentional parenting, we can reduce teen and gun violence in our communities.