Clara Walker, 51, had nine children and eight grandchildren. On Dec. 29 at about 1:40 p.m., Walker was hit by a stray bullet from a shooting in front of her apartment near Fairground Park in North St. Louis City.
She was simply looking out her front window when the bullet struck her.
Walker was one of the last lives taken by senseless violence this year, and her life was honored and remembered at the annual New Year’s Eve candlelight vigil for homicide victims in St. Louis City and County. The vigil was held at Williams Temple Church of God In Christ, 1500 North Union Boulevard, at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.
Police officers and community members read out loud the names of the 120 people in St. Louis City and 20 in St. Louis County who were murdered in 2013. More than 100 people attended the vigil. They sat in silence – praying into the flickering candles they held – while those who lost their lives were remembered.
Before the reading, the St. Louis City mayor, police chiefs and various legislators offered words of sympathy and encouragement to the victims’ families.
“We go into this new year remembering what happened last year,” said Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen. “We can do better, and we’re going to do it as a community. We know we need to get the guns off the streets.”
Jeanette Culpepper, founder of Families Advocating Safe Streets, has been holding the candlelight service since 1991 – when her son, Curtis Weldon Johnson Jr., 22, was shot and killed.
“Everyone hurts the same,” she said. “No one hurts less, and I am honored to know that these families’ losses have been remembered for 22 years.”
Culpepper said when her son was killed, she didn’t want his life to be forgotten and she knew many other parents felt the same way. She also remembers going through the process of seeking justice for her son. For many of the parents, their designated homicide detectives become like family members, she said.
“I had a really nice detective who told me I could call him anytime,” she said. “Sometimes parents don’t get this treatment. But homicide detectives are a unique set of police. They have to hear crying in the phone all day. It takes a special one to wear that hat.”
St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch said he appreciated that special connection with families when he worked as a homicide detective.
“The most appealing part of my 34-year law enforcement career has been the time spent in the homicide unit,” he said. “Even though things may change and years go on, we will never stop seeking justice. There is no statute of limitation on a homicide.”
Fitch said this was his last year of attending the vigil as chief, reminding the crowd that he was retiring this year.
“Even though we retire, we never forget about your loved ones,” he said.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson swore to tighten police strategies to decrease violent crime in the city. Of the homicide victims in St. Louis City, 105 were African American and 97 were male.
“The best hope that we have is the hope that we see in this room,” he said. “The combined power of an engaged public working with law enforcement towards a goal.”
Throughout the service, musicians including choral group Joyfullettes and singer Denise Atty lifted the attendees spirits and brought to them to their feet many times to join the singing. Several pastors also helped to keep the families focus on prayer, including Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten of William Temple Church, Elder Nelson Watts Jr., pastor of El-Bethel C.O.G.I.C., and Rev. David L. Battle, pastor of Bread of Life Pentecostal Apostolic Church.
James Clark of Better Family Life talked about reaching out to those in the community who are on the wrong path. Better Family Life meets every Saturday at 10 a.m. at the BFL Community Outreach Center at 6017 Natural Bridge Ave. Residents meet to talk about success and challenges in their personal growth, and then they go out into the community to talk to others about opportunities in job training programs. For more information about the Put Down the Pistol program, call 314-381-8200.