Remarkable journey of forgiveness and reconciliation.


Mary Johnson-Roy lost her only son, Laramiun Lamont Byrd, in a tragic incident on February 12, 1993. Here are the key details:

Laramiun was 20 years old when he was killed during a dispute at a party in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The perpetrator was 16-year-old Oshea Israel, who shot Laramiun with four gunshots in a gang-related altercation




Mary Johnson-Roy was deeply affected by her son's death and initially felt intense anger and hatred towards Oshea Israel. She described her feelings as a "root of bitterness" and "hatred" that drove many people away from her




Over the years, Mary struggled with her emotions but eventually found a path to forgiveness. This transformation was influenced by her Christian faith and a poem titled "Two Mothers," which imagined a conversation between the mothers of Jesus Christ and Judas Iscariot. This poem helped her see the commonality of pain and the need for forgiveness



In 2004, Mary decided to meet Oshea Israel in prison, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey of forgiveness and reconciliation. During their meeting, Oshea admitted his actions and expressed remorse, which helped Mary to genuinely forgive him



After Oshea's release from prison in 2010, Mary continued to support him, even hosting a homecoming party and helping him reintegrate into society. They developed a close bond, with Mary considering Oshea as her "spiritual son" and Oshea seeing Mary as a second mother


Mary Johnson-Roy's story of forgiveness and her work in promoting healing and reconciliation have inspired many around the world. She passed away on March 27, 2024, at the age of 71.





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