Most of his friends call him Greg. His mother still refers to him as Gregory, and his full name is Gregory Sheldon Bivin II.

Tragically, Greg is also the victim of gunfire — a LaPlace native shot and killed nearly five years ago in Georgia.

Ask his friends and loved ones, and you’ll soon realize the violent end shouldn’t define the 24 years Greg lived and loved, most of it right here in the River Parishes.

With that in mind, his mother, Kristen St. Pierre, is raising money to build a house (two actually) in her son’s name for disadvantaged families in Honduras.

“I felt compelled to do this, because this world is filled with so much hate and anger,” St. Pierre said. “What better way to honor the loss of my son than to turn his memory with a gift of love. My faith tells me ‘God will provide. Honor your loved one’s memory with me and let’s make this a better world.’”

That message was driven home a couple of weeks ago when St. Pierre attended Ascension of Our Lord Church and listened to a mission priest representing Food For The Poor, a faith-based group working to feed and house the poor throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

In fact, St. Pierre admits she first heard the group’s message two years ago during a similar church service and knew it was something her son would have appreciated.

“They talked about building a house in a loved one’s memory,” she said. “I had wanted to do it at that time, but, of course, I walked out and life went on and you just have other things to do.”

Not this time.

St. Pierre again left church a couple of weeks ago and, this time, discussed the idea with good friend Kelly Hane, who loved the idea. Hane, who briefly taught Greg as a youngster, ended up providing the effort’s first donation.

“I thought it was a great thing to do to remember a wonderful young man,” she said. “It gives the chance for people to have a better life, and Greg would have loved that. It’s how we keep our loved ones with us even when they are not. It also spreads the love to people we don’t know.”

St. Pierre, grateful for the start, has since begun a fundraising drive at Gofundme.com/GregBivin, collecting approximately $1,000 in the first two weeks toward a $3,600 goal. She said Food For The Poor can provide a home, complete with running water, for $3,600, adding there is a bank match for any home constructed in Honduras, meaning two homes are built for each $3,600 raised.

Those interested can learn more at FoodForThePoor.org or by calling St. Pierre at 504-487-9483.

“Gregory would love that everybody is joining together to do something to help someone who can’t do for themselves,” St. Pierre said. “I feel like since he has passed, he has called me to do this. I definitely feel like I am being called to let everyone participate or let everyone experience a part of the celebration of doing this.

“Had it not been for him passing away, I probably would have never done something like this.”

Despite her son’s death Sept. 26, 2012, St. Pierre said she still sees incredible blessings from God that allow her to focus on his positive impact.

“I continue to feel like I have a relationship with my son and great peace because I know he is still with me, still taking care of all of us in his own way.”