Acclaimed fiction writer, beloved creative writing teacher, and all around compassionate literary citizen Christine Sneed used to be my colleague at DePaul University here in Chicago. Even though she now resides in Pasadena, California and she and I have not worked together directly for years, she continues to teach me a great deal by example: how to keep up your sense of humor in your life and your work even when things get dark, how to show up for yourself and your community and always be as good as your word, how to work hard and persist in the face of an all too often disappointing publishing industry, and how to be a true friend.
Our beautiful, joy filled Shannon Leigh Sumrall, 43, passed away at home in Ruston on November 28, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. Shannon was born in Ruston on May 13, 1979, which just happened to be Mother’s Day.