Girls Write Now Honors the Life of Simera Ladson

On Friday, June 06, 2025, Girls Write Now mentee alum Simera Ladson tragically passed away at the age of 23.

In the words of her friend, Chantel, “[Simera] was a Girls Write Now pioneer throughout high school and was loved by the community and her mentor. She was an amazing writer whose impact reached beyond the page. She absolutely loved this community.”

Simera was a mentee from 2018-2019, and she was mentored by Caroline Sydney. She performed her deeply moving poem, “8 Years” at the Girls Write Now April 2019 CHAPTERS Reading. Simera dedicated the poem to her mother who passed away earlier that month.

To honor Simera’s vibrant life, Simera’s sister and her friends have started a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to cover the cost of her memorial and to assist with transportation so that loved ones can come together to say goodbye.

“Losing Simera has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled,” her family wrote. “No one was prepared for this. We are shattered, and yet, we want to honor her in the way she deserves—with a memorial service full of love, memories, and the kind of beauty she brought into this world every day.”

We encourage our community to donate and to share their memories of Simera.

Girls Write Now is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our community. In the wake of Simera’s passing, it is more important than ever to lean on one another for comfort and support. If you are looking for resources to process grief, we encourage you to consult these resources: