News

A ‘strong and amazing’ person

Murdered Lynbrook teen is laid to rest

Posted

Lauren Daverin-Gresham, of Lynbrook, who would have turned 19 on Aug. 31, was described by her friends and family as “strong,” “amazing,” and someone who spoke her own mind. She died on Aug. 22.

“She was very independent, very outspoken,” said her friend Laura Barabash, 18, an East Rockaway resident. “I just spoke to her that day — I was just with her,” Barabash added, saying that she had slept over at Lauren’s the night before she was murdered. “I went back home, and then she called me that day to hang out and I couldn’t … I had other plans.”

Daverin-Gresham’s body was found on the Merrick Road footbridge in Rockville Centre last Thursday. Maxwell Sherman, an 18-year-old Long Beach resident, was arrested and arraigned in Nassau County Court on Sunday, charged with her murder. He is being held without bail.

Barabash said that Daverin-Gresham grew up in Lynbrook and moved to Malverne about five years ago, attending Malverne High School as a freshman and a sophomore. Then her family moved to East Rockaway, living on Nicholas Avenue and then Second Avenue in Bay Park for nearly two years. “Her house was wiped out in the hurricane,” Barabash added. The family then moved back to Lynbrook.

“She wasn’t afraid of many things,” said another friend, Stephen McLaughlin, of Lynbrook. “I was at her house all the time. She was fun to be around. I can’t say anything bad about her.”

Daverin married Freeport resident Kashawn Gresham, an Air Force airman first class, in a civil ceremony last summer. “He used to live around here,” said Barabash. “He’s stationed in Louisiana now. They got married after dating for seven months.” Gresham is in his early 20s. The couple had been living at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisana, and Daverin-Gresham was back home for a visit. According to her mother, she was due to go back earlier this week.

McLaughlin said that Daverin-Gresham loved doing “girl things.” “She loved makeup, and changing her hair color,” he said. “She loved music — and she could rap! She was awesome.” Barabash said that Daverin also enjoyed babysitting for her nephew, Shawn.

Page 1 / 2