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Tears Turn To Music, Dance At Event Celebrating Life Of Oakland Mom Who Died Trying To Protect Her Children From Gunfire

OAKLAND (KPIX 5) -- Just days after the tragic death of an Oakland mother who was trying to save her children from getting caught in a shootout, the community, her friends and family are mourning and celebrating her life.

The day started off with tears, but it ended with singing and dancing at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. It was a very different tone after a week of grieving the loss of Chyemil Pierce.

Jennifer Johns helped organize the event.

"It felt like what we really needed was to celebrate life. To come together and dance and pray with each other … and remember why it's important to live and enjoy life together," she said.

Chyemil Pierce
Chyemil Pierce (Family photo/Oakland Police Dept.)

Saturday's celebration comes just days after a stray bullet killed Chyemil in front of her home, last Monday. Police said she was shielding her two kids when a gunfight broke out down the street.

Oakland City Councilmember Lynette Gibson also helped put the event together.

"Chyemil is part of a legacy... both the city and the nation need to do better to make our cities safe" she said. Gibson wanted to bring people here today to celebrate Chyemil's life, and the lives of so many others killed by violence.

And people did come. Friends and family came. People came who knew Chyemil as a volunteer at her children's school, Vincent Academy in West Oakland, where her husband coaches basketball.

Even those who didn't know her came.

Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson was one of them. Tyson didn't know Chyemil personally, but said her co-workers at Kaiser spoke highly of her.

"She was caring and they said she was just full of life. It's just a sad loss," he said.

Chyemil's family requested privacy but her older sister Chante Regis opened up about Chyemil's devotion to the children she died protecting.

"This didn't have to happen. It didn't have to happen this way. She went to work, she came home, she fed the kids, she made sure they had baths, made sure they did their homework, she participated in their activities, she participated in their schools," she said fighting back tears.

The pain of Chyemil's loss is still fresh for Chante and the entire family. Hopefully today's show of love and support offered them some relief.

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