– It was only four days ago that Yolanda Oliver had to put her daughter to rest after a senseless shooting at a gas station in north Huntsville took the 18-year-old's life.

But the 40-year-old mother, wearing white and sporting a smile, wanted to share her story to try to curb recent gun violence in the community.





Oliver, a lifelong member of Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Winchester Road, spoke during the church's "no questions asked" gun buyback program, which kicked off this morning and will continue Saturday. The event was held to encourage residents to turn in their guns rather than be tempted by them.



Oliver's daughter, Ashia Raquel Oliver, died June 18 after a fight she was not involved in broke out and ended in gunfire at the Sunoco gas station on Pulaski Pike and Mastin Lake Road.



Describing her daughter as a "very beautiful girl" who loved photography and had a big heart for the homeless and people with special needs, Oliver said she hopes the two-day gun buyback program and her daughter's tragic passing will evoke change in the area.



"I want these young people to know that death is real," she said. "It's time to put down the guns. Guns don't kill people, people kill people."



Ashia, who had just graduated from Lee High School and wanted to become a dental hygienist, would have turned 19 on Nov. 2. Her mother said she was looking forward to college and loved watching "America's Next Top Model" with her family every Sunday.

A fund has been set up at Redstone Federal Credit Union in memory of Ashia.



Oliver gave thanks to God for giving her "inner strength" since Ashia's death, but said knowing her young daughter is "still here with me in my heart" is what has kept her going.



"That's the only way I'm getting by," she said.



Wendell Jackson, 18, and Andrae Norvel, 20, were also injured during the shooting. Jackson's mother, Tammy, was scheduled to speak at the event today, but had to cancel her appearance because her son was having an operation.



Oliver said Ashia's 20-year-old sister, Ariyan, has had an especially difficult time adjusting to her younger sibling's sudden passing.



"It's tougher for her because they were like peas in a pod," she said. "Wherever Ashia was at, my oldest daughter was there."

Antoyne Green, pastor at New Life Church in Athens, was one of several local religious leaders to speak at the event in Huntsville this morning.

Green said he was proud to see the community "not just standing around anymore doing what we do best – which is typically talk and not walk."

"It is one thing to call God for a miracle, but it's another thing to participate in your miracle," he said. "It's another thing to participate in changing your society and in changing your world."

Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Rev. O. Wendell Davis said the church has been planning to host a gun buyback event for some time. He said the idea to hold it during the Fourth of July weekend was inspired by Ashia's untimely passing.

"This represents the church being willing to do its part and that is go out into the community and partner with families, parents, guardians and grandparents to do the best we can to save the lives of our children," he said.

Anyone can drop off unloaded firearms between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday at the church on 315 Winchester Road and receive a $50 credit card in return. Madison County sheriff's deputies will collect the guns through the basement doors in the back of the church.

Send Lucy Berry an email at lberry@al.com.