Friends hold memorial to remember, celebrate slain London woman Cheryl Sheldon
George Kenneth Curtis, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in her death
Loved ones held a memorial on Tuesday to remember Cheryl Sheldon and celebrate her as someone who overcame the numerous adversities she faced in her life that was cut short a few days earlier.
Sheldon, 62, died in hospital on Saturday after London police found her with life-threatening injuries in her apartment at 345 Wharncliffe Rd. N. just after 12 a.m. George Kenneth Curtis, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in her death.
Friends shared fond stories about Sheldon at their weekly Pizza and Prayers event at the London Public Library's Central branch, where Sheldon was a regular and also met many of her "London family members," her friends said.
"She was a very nice person and I'm going to miss her," said Doug Howarth. "She was one of the first people I met when I first came down here and we became friends ever since."
Howarth and his wife Jessica Brockett said they met Sheldon last August and were in disbelief when they learned of her death through social media posts.
"That's when it became real and I've been crying ever since," said Brockett. "She was outgoing, she was a nice person, she was always friendly and wanted to help people."
Police say Sheldon and Curtis knew each other but have remained tight-lipped on the nature of their relationship. However, friends and neighbours told CBC News Curtis was Sheldon's boyfriend and he lived in the apartment with her. They also said she was trying to escape an abusive relationship when she died.
Charges against Curtis have not been proven in court. His first court appearance was on Tuesday.
Police did not call Sheldon's death a domestic homicide, but in their release about the death and charges included a statement about intimate partner violence and femicide.
"Intimate partner violence persists as a threat to the safety and wellbeing of our community," the statement reads. "Ninety-five municipalities across Ontario, including the City of London, have declared intimate partner violence an epidemic."
'She's always in our heart'
Howarth and Brockett said Sheldon would complain about issues she was having with her boyfriend, but they didn't know the situation would take such a turn.
"I wish I lived closer so I could've helped her. She's never going to be forgotten, she's always in our heart," said Brockett.
Brockett's fondest memories of Sheldon involved the pair doing word searches or colouring together, while talking about life and sometimes picking on their mutual friend, she said.
Sheldon's friends Emma Worrall and Stefan Nichol spoke about her journey to becoming housed after years of living on the streets and struggling with addiction. It was important to bring her friends — many of whom are also unhoused— together, said Nichol.
"She might have a funeral somewhere but these people are never going to see that. They can't make it there," he said.
Sheldon was the first person Drusilla Williams met when she moved into the apartment building, earlier this month, and said Sheldon greeted her with warmth.
"She was trying to make me feel welcome because she knew how nervous I was about moving. I didn't even really get to know her and I didn't know she lived down the hall," said Williams
Williams was happy to see how much Sheldon mattered to the community and that she wasn't just an invisible figure, she said.
"People like us, we're low income, we're fighting just to survive...some of us are on the street and some aren't but we feel like if we were to pass away, we'd be lost in the crowd," she said. "So to see that people that actually care is nice."
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