White lilies and pink and red carnations are taped to a tree on the same street where LaShaune Bishop was shot and killed early Sunday.
On Tuesday night, lit candles surrounded the base of the tree, which had signs with pictures of Bishop posted around its trunk. As the candles’ flames flickered in the wind, people in cars drove by and stared at the memorial for the 21-year-old mother of two who died early Sunday after being shot in the back on the 1800 block of Brown Avenue.
The posters are covered with messages, written by family and friends of Bishop telling her that she will always be loved and remembered.
One message said: “‘You ain’t gone, I can still see you every time I close my eyes, believe me it’s a perfect picture,’ Love, Sheba.”
Attached to the posters were fliers asking people to call Evanston Police Department if they knew anything about the shooting. As of Tuesday night, EPD had not released the names of any suspects.
Bishop is remembered by those close to her as a funny friend and confidante who was trying to improve her life.
“Her personality, it was really unique … she’d always make you laugh,” said Tiffany Rice, who had known Bishop since they both attended Haven School, 2417 Prairie Ave.. “She wasn’t a comedian, it was just little stuff that she said that would send you over the edge.”
“She had her times when she did crack us up,” said Nakisha Miller, who was with Bishop before the shooting.
Rice said Bishop always was with her children, Naquana Bishop, 5, and Jovonn Norman, 1, who are now staying with Bishop’s family.
“When we would go to the mall she would have her kids with her and they loved her,” Rice said.
Kim Ross met Bishop about 11 years ago when Bishop began participating in the afterschool program run by Family Focus, a nonprofit organization serving Evanston residents. Ross, a special projects planner for Family Focus, said Bishop was a “spirited young lady” with a nice smile. Bishop had been involved in programs run by the center since she was in sixth grade.
Recently, Bishop had been trying to receive her GED as part of a Evanston Township High school’s adult education program taught at Family Focus, 2010 Dewey Ave.
Bishop dropped out of ETHS her senior year after her mother died of cancer. Rice said Bishop was very close with her mother.
“It eases the pain to know that she’s with her mother,” Rice said. “She’s in safe and loving arms.”
A wake will be held Monday at 10 a.m followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer AME Church, 1109 Emerson St.
The Daily’s Erin Ailworth contributed to this report.
