A Mother’s Grief: Interview with Mary Stennett Sellers, Mother of Death Row Inmate

When one thinks of great works of literature, the name John Grisham probably isn’t one of the first to come to mind. Yet few writers have more consistently impacted my life than he has. In fact, the very course of my life was especially impacted by his novel, “The Confession”, a novel about the death penalty and wrongful convictions.

It was after midnight when I finished the book and immediately researched death row inmates to correspond with. With only names and ages available, I chose to write to a man named Matthew Puckett in Mississippi, who I chose because we were born within weeks of each other. Despite the random means of connection, we became fast and true friends.

Matt was executed by the state of Mississippi on March 20th, 2012. My friend died by means of sanitized, state-sanctioned murder. I still grieve for him. Yet, he changed my life, making me an active advocate to oppose the death penalty, committed to educate and challenge people about the issues involved.

However, perhaps the dearest gift Matt gave me was an introduction to his mother, Mary. Mary has become more than just a friend, but someone I love like family. Our friendship and her story was much of the inspiration for my novel, “The Last Verdict”.