(Memphis) If you followed the story about Heather Palumbo-Jones, no doubt your heart has been with her children.
Her 8-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter are learning to live without their mom after police say she was murdered by their father Chris Jones.
Just two days before she was murdered, Heather was doing what she loved with friends.
In a home video, she can be seen in in a purple top and black pants dancing Zumba.
It’s how the school teacher and mother of two lost more 140 pounds.
Now, Zumba will help her children live on without her.
“College, medical, whatever she needs to help raise the children,” said Heather’s Friend, Melissa Smith, the godmother who is now caring for the children.
Heather’s son and daughter are now living with Heather’s cousin: a young, single woman who is now a single mom of two.
“They know her and they love her dearly,” said Smith. “She teaches at their school so she has been around them for the past three years.”
The 33-year-old will need support to raise the children who lost their mother in the worst way.
“They have been told that their mother is deceased and they understand how she died,” said Smith.
Police say Heather was murdered by the father of her children, Chris Jones.
They say he dumped her body in the woods. Now, Smith say,s there’s nothing anyone can really do, “There is absolutely nothing except for giving Chris what he deserves and helping the children.”
Saturday, May 11, her friends and the community will dance in honor of heather and for the benefit of her children.
“We thought it would be a great way to build up the fund for the children,” said Smith.
If you want to do Zumba for Heather’s children, go to Holy Communion Church on Saturday off Walnut Grove.
The dancing will begin at 9:30 a.m. and wrap-up at noon.
Twenty-five Zumba instructors will be leading dances for 2.5 hours.
You can dance for 5 minutes or the whole time.
Admission is five dollars and all the money will go to the Ava and Connor Fund at Regions Bank.
The Zumba event will also have food, door prizes and a silent auction.
Businesses have donated massages, purses, jewelry and dinners at restaurants.
All money raised will go to pay for the raising of Heather’s children.