Richmond Homicide Support Group hosts memorial to honor victims this holiday
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The loved ones of homicide victims gathered in Richmond on Thursday for a Holiday Remembrance Memorial, with the vigil meant to both honor those who are no longer here and provide support for those who are. The Richmond Homicide Support Group held this event at the Richmond Police Academy the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 4. The memorial was attended by many, all coming together to remember loved ones who have been taken from them. During the event, the names of victims were read aloud and their photos were shown on a projector screen. Attendees rose and embraced one another, showing empathy and support to their fellow community members. "I pray that we get to a day where we don't ever have to keep doing this," a speaker from the Richmond Victim/Witness Services Program said when speaking before the crowd. The guest speaker of the night, Vakisha Smith, talked about the murder of her daughter in June 2018 and how difficult it was to keep living after that loss. Chesterfield teenager accused of shooting someone he knows in Colonial Heights "I wanted to give up on life -- but I had to remember that I had another daughter who needed me, as well," Smith said. She added that her family, friends and her Christian faith have kept her going, as well as finding ways to give back to her community. "Always remember that your loved one is with you ... and God is with you, at all times," she told attendees in closing. "I love you all -- and just know you're not alone." Esther Marshall with the Richmond Homicide Support Group told 8News that those whose lives have been touched by this kind of violence need somewhere they can go to talk about their pain. This support group aims to be such a place. "After the passover, after the burial, [after] everything -- there was still a void in their lives," she said. "They had no one to talk to. No one to share this with." Ever since the launch of the support group between 2007 and 2008, Marshall said it has grown and grown. It holds regular meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, fostering conversation and offering various activities. "There is a need for it," Marshall said. "People need to talk." 8News tours Richmond’s new affordable housing developments Marshall added that the Richmond Police Department provides the building the support group meets in, as well as meals and other resources. For more information about the Richmond Homicide Support Group, contact Sharron Saunders at sharron.saunders@rva.gov.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The loved ones of homicide victims gathered in Richmond on Thursday for a Holiday Remembrance Memorial, with the vigil meant to both honor those who are no longer here and provide support for those who are.
The Richmond Homicide Support Group held this event at the Richmond Police Academy the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The memorial was attended by many, all coming together to remember loved ones who have been taken from them. During the event, the names of victims were read aloud and their photos were shown on a projector screen. Attendees rose and embraced one another, showing empathy and support to their fellow community members.
"I pray that we get to a day where we don't ever have to keep doing this," a speaker from the Richmond Victim/Witness Services Program said when speaking before the crowd.
The guest speaker of the night, Vakisha Smith, talked about the murder of her daughter in June 2018 and how difficult it was to keep living after that loss.
Chesterfield teenager accused of shooting someone he knows in Colonial Heights
"I wanted to give up on life -- but I had to remember that I had another daughter who needed me, as well," Smith said.
She added that her family, friends and her Christian faith have kept her going, as well as finding ways to give back to her community.
"Always remember that your loved one is with you ... and God is with you, at all times," she told attendees in closing. "I love you all -- and just know you're not alone."
Esther Marshall with the Richmond Homicide Support Group told 8News that those whose lives have been touched by this kind of violence need somewhere they can go to talk about their pain. This support group aims to be such a place.
"After the passover, after the burial, [after] everything -- there was still a void in their lives," she said. "They had no one to talk to. No one to share this with."
Ever since the launch of the support group between 2007 and 2008, Marshall said it has grown and grown. It holds regular meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, fostering conversation and offering various activities.
"There is a need for it," Marshall said. "People need to talk."
8News tours Richmond’s new affordable housing developments
Marshall added that the Richmond Police Department provides the building the support group meets in, as well as meals and other resources.
For more information about the Richmond Homicide Support Group, contact Sharron Saunders at sharron.saunders@rva.gov.
