This dad invited his daughter’s bullies to her funeral
Sometimes, extreme bullying leads to horrifying consequences. Amy “Dolly” Everett committed suicide at 14 years old after bullies led her to feel hopeless. Around 300 mourners showed up at her funeral wearing blue, Dolly’s favorite color. Whether or not her bullies attended is still unknown — but they were definitely invited through Facebook by Dolly Everett’s father, Tick Everett.
Not only did Tick Everett write a thoughtful statement about his daughter’s death on Facebook, but he also gave a moving speech at Dolly’s funeral. “As a family, we will remember Dolly as a kind, gentle and loving little girl who loved her animals and cared so deeply for other people less fortunate than her,” he said.
According to ABC in Australia, she was nicknamed Dolly since her family believed that she had doll-like features, which was likely one of the reasons why she modeled for Akubra, an Australian hat company. The name stuck and became part of her personality.
Dolly Everett passed away on January 3rd, leaving Tick Everett to mourn by posting photos of her on Facebook. His current profile photo shows Dolly beneath the words “Dolly took her own life to escape bullying.” It’s a powerful image.
In his statement after Dolly’s passing, Tick thanked everyone for their kind words and support, but he also made it clear that no matter what, Dolly had so much strength.
"This week has been an example of how social media should be used, it has also been an example of how it shouldn't be," he said. "If we can help other precious lives from being lost and the suffering of so many, then Doll's life will not be wasted. I know for some suicide is considered [cowardly] but I guarantee those people wouldn't have half the strength that my precious little angel had, Doll had the strength to do what she thought she had to do to escape the evil in this world."
He also included this huge gesture as a way to help stop bullying in the future.
"If by some chance the people who thought this was a joke and made themselves feel superior by the constant bullying and harassment see this post, please come to our service and witness the complete devastation you have created."
The family is looking towards starting up “Dolly’s Dream,” a future trust that will help raise awareness about bullying and teen suicide.
We hope that Tick Everett’s message will help everyone remember that making fun of someone may have consequences that devastate an entire family.
We appreciate Dolly Everett’s family shared her story, and we wish them nothing but love as they heal.
If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. For additional resources, you can visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.
