Shirley Wiles-Dickinson

Shirley Wiles-Dickinson is the youngest of four girls in a Midwestern family. In 2009, her sister was brutally murdered. She writes about her experience following this loss.

Articles:

Memory Loss During Grief

In the last 15 months, I have had the privilege of talking and listening to many people on this journey of grief. One thing that seems to be constant with […]

Finding a Purpose After a Sibling’s Murder

After my sister, Sandra, was murdered in September of 2009, I was pro-active in seeking help to deal with the tragedy. I saw my doctor regularly, a family therapist and […]

Prepare to Make it Through the Holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, I think about last Christmas. Last year was the first Christmas without my sister. Personally, I felt like skipping over the entire season. I knew […]

My Sister’s Murder: The Questions Continue

On September 18th, my sister, Sandra, was found dead in her home. It was ruled a homicide later that day. Within a few days we had received the answers to […]

Six Months After Sister’s Murder, an Arrest and More Questions

When my sister was murdered in her home in September of 2009, my life changed forever. The questions that flood your mind in these circumstances are unbearable. Not knowing who […]

Following Sister’s Murder, Questions Abound

How many of us have watched the news, listened to the terrible details of a homicide and thought to ourselves “that poor family”? I would venture to say most of […]

First Hours After a Sister’s Murder: Big Questions

Many people have suffered some kind of loss of a loved one through death. Personally, I’ve lost both sets of grandparents, my father, two uncles and four aunts, not to […]