Shannon Denbow hopes her advocacy keeps the issue at the forefront and brings lasting change to one of coastal Georgia’s most iconic landmarks.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A Brunswick mother is turning her grief into a mission to save lives.
Following the tragic loss of both her father and her son to suicide, Shannon Denbow is spearheading an initiative to put suicide prevention barriers on the Sidney Lanier Bridge.
This endeavor is profoundly personal for Denbow. Her father, Timothy, ended his life when she was just eight years old. Earlier this year, her son Tager, who served in the Air Force, also died by suicide.
“I cannot imagine the anguish a family experiences when a loved one takes their life in a waterway, potentially leaving them unrecovered and without a final resting place,” Denbow expressed. “Barriers would not only prevent such tragedies but also offer families a sense of closure.”
Denbow argues that barriers provide something vital for individuals in crisis: time. She highlights statistics from various bridges nationwide, including the Golden Gate, where physical barriers have been effective in reducing suicide rates.
In August 2025, Denbow initiated a petition on Change.org that has garnered over 1,400 signatures. Advocates assert that the barriers would not only protect those in crisis but also spare families and first responders the trauma associated with recovery efforts.
Questions persist. State Representative Rick Townsend, whom Denbow reached out to for assistance, notes that the initial challenge is assessing whether installing barriers is feasible from an engineering standpoint.
“The first question is feasibility,” Townsend explained. “If we decide to put any kind of barriers up, it can’t compromise bridge safety or ship traffic underneath. That has to come first—before cost, before design.”
Townsend says he has reached out to the Georgia Department of Transportation and is awaiting an official response. If feasible, the next challenge will be funding. Options could include state or local governments, or even private fundraising.
For now, Denbow is preparing to take her push locally. She is scheduled to address the Brantley County Commission on October 7, encouraging leaders to pass a resolution of support. She also plans to bring her case before Glynn County commissioners.
Denbow argues that the cost of lives lost far outweighs the financial price of prevention. “Your taxpayer money is already going toward recovery efforts,” she said. “The emotional cost on the community is awful. This is about deliberately meeting people where they are, before it’s too late.”
As the community awaits answers from transportation officials, Denbow hopes her advocacy keeps the issue at the forefront and brings lasting change to one of coastal Georgia’s most iconic landmarks.
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis and needs help right away:
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts can reach the suicide prevention lifeline 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
Kids and teens can call the Wolfson Children’s Hospital free mental health hotline at any time at 904-202-7900, or text the word “Life” to 741-741 and a counselor will text you back.
