girltrek activist shawnton clay found murdered

“My baby was a ray of sunshine,” Shawnton Clay’s mother, Lori Sanchez, told the Tennessean. “She always had a positive attitude and tried to help everybody. She saw good in everyone no matter the situation.”

Days after failing to show up to work and being unreachable, family members forced their way into Shawnton Clay’s Avalon Apartment which she shared with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ronald Dickens Jr. Their worst fears were confirmed when they found Shawnton’s body unresponsive inside. As of now, her cause of death is still being determined by a medical examiner, but the police who arrived at the scene reported that there were visible “signs of obvious trauma” to her body.

At the time of her death, Clay, who lived in Nashville, TN, was an active part of a national health movement known as GirlTrek which champions active lifestyles for Black women and girls. In response to her death, GirlTrek national spokeswoman Jewel Bush said in a statement that Shawnton was a “bright light” and “dedicated” leader and organizer.

As Shawnton’s family and community mourn her death, police continue the search for her husband, who is being charged with criminal homicide for Clay’s murder and has been missing since the weekend.

BREAKING: An arrest warrant has now been issued charging Ronald Dickens, 42, with criminal homicide for the murder of his wife, Shawnton Clay, 30. Clay was found dead by family members Saturday in the couple’s Hermitage apartment. She had obvious trauma to her body… pic.twitter.com/s8oO9PMo7v

— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) January 28, 2020

Some of Shawnton’s colleagues have arranged a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her funeral costs. Donate here