By LOIS KINDLE
South Shore News
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At 3:23 a.m. Oct. 23, Kimala Achor’s life was changed forever when her 29-year-old sister, Edith, was murdered in a Belle Glades motel. Although the investigation is still pending, law enforcement officials now suspect Achor’s sister may have been the victim of a drug-related shooting.

Achor had already become the custodial guardian of her sister’s children two-and-a-half years before the incident. There were issues of neglect and self-destructive behavior, Achor said.

“Edith was unable to care for them properly,” she continued, adding her sister had been abandoned by the children’s father. Eking it out as a housekeeper, her sister had been arrested a number of times for things like petty theft, robbery and domestic violence. Struggling financially and emotionally, she eventually began using cocaine.

When she died in October, eight children – ages 21 months to 12 years – suddenly became orphans.

“Nobody would take them all, and we didn’t want them split up,” Achor said.

So to keep them together, Achor, 43, took her nieces and nephews into the 980-square-foot trailer she and her lifelong friend, Tara Barnes, 43, share. Achor has begun the adoption process, but the snag is finding a large enough home to meet state requirements. Two bedrooms and two baths will do for the time being, Achor said, but it’s not an ideal situation.

Achor currently receives $463 per month in food stamps and $1,963 in subsidy per month from the Florida Department of Children and Families. She has a full-time job at DriRite, a mold remediation company, and Barnes, who cannot work due to a disability, stays home and cares for the children when Achor is away. The two pretty much share parenting responsibilities.

But things are rather tight, they admit.

There are two mortgage payments and both of their vehicles need work. They have Medicaid health coverage for the children, but neither has life insurance and the trailer isn’t insured, either. Achor is still paying off her sister’s funeral bill.

But neither woman is complaining.

“We appreciate the help we’re receiving,” Achor said, noting area businesses and schools donated gifts and food for the children over the holidays. Congregants of the Maranatha Temple Church of God in Ruskin gave $374 to the family to help with the funeral expenses.

“We just need a larger home,” Achor said.

Although the family is poor by some people’s standards, they are rich in love and security. The family plays and prays together. Instead of iPods and computers, the kids make up their own games, ride bikes, go fishing or toss a football around. Often Barnes and Achor are out there with them. And every night, they help the children with their homework. Since living with their aunt, the four oldest children have become honor roll students.

“We love having them,” Achor said. “We are truly blessed.”

“We’re living on a wing and a prayer,” she continued, “but we have lots of love, and Jesus protects us. What’s important is the family is together.”

The kids agree.

“It’s awesome,” said 12-year-old Othiniel, the oldest of the children. “I’m glad we didn’t get separated, that we got to stay together. I knew Aunt Kim wouldn’t let that happen.”

A typical weekday finds the family up at 6 a.m. The older boys – Othiniel, Nelson, 10, and Carlos, 9 – help their younger brothers, Alex and Adrian, who are twins, get dressed. Barnes lays out clothes for all of the children and helps the girls – Carollynn, 8, Kimala, almost 5, and Clarista, 2 – get ready. The kids eat breakfast, Achor drives them to school and picks them up after school. Baths begin at 5:30 p.m., then comes homework, dinner and a bit of TV. By 7:30 p.m., the youngest children are in bed. An hour later, their older siblings follow.

Achor is currently filling out applications to Habitat for Humanity and ABC-TV’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. She said DriRite has offered dry wall and wood should she find the help she is seeking.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in aiding the family can make a donation to RBC Century Bank’s Family of 8 Fund, 112 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., Sun City Center, FL 33573. The trustee is Guerre Barnes of Ruskin, Tara Barnes’ brother. For more information, call 633-6281.