CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – On Sept. 4, what would have been Kadaris Maddox’s 14th birthday, friends and family will gather at McGregor Park to celebrate his life beginning at 3 p.m.

His grandmother, Dawn Maddox, of Clarksville, said she and her grandson visited the park often. “I would push him in his stroller,” she said. “Kadaris and I would visit the park often. We would sit and watch the boats on the river.”

Dawn said she and her family are selling T-shirts to raise money for the service.

She said her daughter Cheyenne Maddox already held a small funeral. However, since word spread of Dawn’s grandson’s death, more and more people have reached out to her.

“I am beginning to realize just how many people knew Kadaris,” Dawn Maddox said.

Case against the mom

On July 6, EMS paramedics responded to a call on Virginia Terrace, where unsafe conditions, as well as the body of a deceased 13-year-old boy, prompted first responders to call police.

Cheyenne Maddox was arrested on five counts of child abuse and neglect. On Aug. 9, authorities charged Maddox again, this time in the death of Kadaris, charging her with aggravated child abuse/neglect/endangerment of a child.

“I’ll be there when she goes to court to see how things are going and what we can do,” Dawn Maddox said.

Clarksville Police haven’t released any further details, saying only that additional charges are still possible.

Cheyenne Maddox’s preliminary hearing on the aggravated child abuse case will be Sept. 14.

Support mixed with grief

Dawn Maddox said she is doing her best to be there for her daughter. “I still love my daughter, I am torn, and I loved my grandson,” she said.

“Even after all this is over, if my daughter did do something wrong, she’s not the only one,” she said. “A lot of agencies were involved that did not do their job.”

In the meantime, Dawn said she is focusing on the upcoming memorial.

“We are going to get projectors so people can see the slideshow pictures. We want people to be able to gather for the memorial. We also want to celebrate his birthday because he didn’t get very many birthdays,” she said.