Amid mourning the tragic loss of a mother of seven, loved ones have rallied together to create a GoFundMe campaign to help support her family, and a tribute was posted by someone who knew her.
A community in Jacksonville is mourning the loss of Shantel Patrice Ennis, a beloved mother of seven kids, who lost her life following a tragic car accident on Riverside Avenue near the Acosta Bridge on May 25, 2025.
What began as an ordinary Sunday quickly unraveled into a heartbreaking tragedy for Ennis’ family. Just before noon, while traveling with her fiancé and their one-year-old child along Riverside Avenue, the 29-year-old’s life was cut short when their vehicle collided with a barrier. Though her partner and baby were rushed to the hospital and survived, Ennis did not.
The loss has sent shockwaves through those closest to her, many of whom are still struggling to comprehend the sudden void left behind.
Her fiancé, Michael Fulmore, who was behind the wheel, recounted waking up inside the wrecked vehicle — disoriented, battered, and facing a nightmare he couldn’t shake.
“I was knocked out,” he shared. “The cops woke me up and gathered me out the car and I’m tapping her trying to wake her up. I dread the fact that the kids are not going to have their mom, and I lost my fiancé. I’ve cried every tear I can cry.”
For Ennis’ father, Pastor Jerome Sales, the devastation is compounded by the piercing contrast between the hope he carried into that Sunday and the anguish that met him by its end. That morning, he had preached a sermon titled “Hidden power in your storm” at Oracles of God Church.
Hours later, officers appeared at his door bearing the kind of news no parent should hear. “When the officer tells you, ‘can we go inside and talk,’ they’re not giving good news [sic],” he said.
Ennis had been more than a daughter to him — she had been a source of light and joy, a steady presence since childhood. “She was so beautiful, I called her China doll,” divulged Pastor Sales. Though not his biological child, she had embraced him and his wife from the beginning, calling Sales “dad” from the moment she entered his life after she lost her biological father.
He fondly recalled teaching her to drive, witnessing the birth of her first child, and watching her grow into a devoted mother of seven.
“I don’t think I could have had a biological daughter that would have did more and been there for me more than she was [sic],” he stated.
Recalling his own fond memories of his late fiancée, Fulmore reminisced, “She jumped on the table and started dancing, and I was looking up at the table like, I’m gonna marry this girl. She’s always been like a breath of fresh air.”
Now, with heartbreak etched into every memory, her loved ones are leaning on faith and each other, determined to keep her family, especially her seven children, together. It’s the promise they’ve made to honor the life she lived and the love she gave so freely.
“We’re going through a tremendous storm right now and we have to rely on God to get us through,” Ennis’ father asserted.
Donations to support Ennis’ family have already begun to pour in from several members of their community, with the drop-off location, 8967 Lem Turner Rd, shared with the public as well.
Additionally, Sales confirmed that people who are inclined may swing by the location during Sunday service, which starts at 9:30 a.m., and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. People can also call 904-882-0549 for more information.
Ennis’ loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign to help provide the homegoing service she so richly deserves and to support the seven children she left behind.
The campaign’s message, tenderly written by her grieving family, paints a picture of the woman so many are mourning — “Shantel was more than just a beautiful soul — she was a devoted mother of 7, a fiancée, a talented makeup and lash artist, and a light to everyone who knew her.”
It’s a sentiment reflected not only in words but also in the images that accompany the page. One captures Ennis’ radiant, confident beauty in a striking portrait, and another shows her beaming alongside her fiancé and children, each dressed in coordinated baby blue, framed by the lush greenery of a sunlit park.
The tribute goes on to describe Ennis’ deeply rooted connection to Jacksonville, where she was born and raised in a home filled with faith and love.
Known for her warm, vibrant spirit, she had a way of making people laugh, often pulling playful pranks. She also shared a love of food that belied her petite frame. Those close to her recall her joy, generosity, and dedication to her work, faith, and family.
With a goal of raising $25,000, the fundraiser has already received a groundswell of support, drawing in over $11,400.
Every donation, large or small, is a step toward easing the financial burden for the family she cherished so fiercely. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support,” the campaign’s message concludes.
Amid the growing chorus of signs of support and tributes pouring in for Ennis, one message in particular has resonated deeply — a personal reflection shared by Amanda DeVoe, who had a chance encounter with Ennis that blossomed into a lasting impression.
DeVoe first met Ennis — also known as “Pat” — while handling a routine errand at the Tax Collector’s Office, where Ennis worked. The young mother’s warm demeanor and keen eye for beauty quickly became apparent. Ennis not only complimented DeVoe’s makeup but also expressed a desire to work with her someday.
That wish came true during a special mother-daughter photoshoot commemorating DeVoe’s mom’s 45th Deltaversary — a moment that, in hindsight, carries even more weight now.
In her tribute, DeVoe reflected on Ennis’ exceptional talent as a makeup artist, noting that after nearly two decades of working with professionals, few had matched the late mom’s touch.
“She was definitely one of the best to ever touch a brush,” DeVoe wrote, adding that Ennis’ kindness, radiant spirit, and devotion to her children made her stand out far beyond her artistry.
Accompanying the tribute are several photos, two showing Ennis’ makeup work in action during the celebratory shoot. DeVoe and her mother appear in matching red and white ensembles, their joy and pride practically leaping off the frame.
DeVoe ended her message by encouraging others to lift Ennis’ fiancé and children in prayer and shared a link to the GoFundMe page.
At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Fulmore, his and Ennis’ seven children, Pastor Sales and his wife, Ennis’ other loved ones, friends, and all who knew and loved her, as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Ennis.
