Vigil honors those slain

Mary Graves, pictured in the middle, waited patiently to say her son's name during the 17th Annual Vigil Against Violence at Shepherd's House United Methodist Church Thursday night.

Graves' son was killed in Macon, Ga. in 2008. She lives in Candor, a small town in Montgomery County, but said the closest support group for her grief is the Durham chapter of Parents of Murdered Children.

Every month, she drives two hours to attend the monthly meetings.

"I was so full of hurt and pain, I couldn't find an organization in my area to help me," said Graves, 62.

Over 200 people attended the vigil, sponsored by the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham, Parents of Murdered Children and Durham Congregations in Action.

Reminded of their loved ones, some people wiped away tears while in their seats and choked up when they spoke.

Graves, along with about 20 other people, voluntarily went in front of the church to say the names of their murdered relatives. The event was filled with song and dance, mostly from Southern High School students, and words decrying violence.

There were 25 homicides in Durham in 2008, the lowest since 2006, when there were 19.