Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • News

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss

At the 2015 ESSENCE Festival, heartbroken mothers who have lost their daughters and sons to gun violence gathered with their children's photos in hand for our third annual prayer vigil. They shared their stories in the hopes of reminding other women to hold their children close and join the fight against gun violence.
By Essence · Updated October 27, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
01
Ione Bolden

Ione Bolden holding a picture of her son Corey James.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
02
Dorothy Johnson White

Dorothy Johnson White holding a picture of her son Calvin Johnson Jr.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
03
Michelle Hunn

Michelle Hunn holding a picture of her sun Bruce Tims Jr.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
04
Shawn James

Shawn James holding a picture of her daughter Shawnese James.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
05
Sonia Miller

Sonia Miller holding a picture of her son Betrand Dezara.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
06
Margaret Washington

Margaret Washington holding a picture of her daughter Marguerite Washington.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
07
Teresa Castle

Teresa Castle hold a pictue of her son Trammell Marshall.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
08
Evangelise Margret George

Evangelise Margret George holding a picture of her son Tyrone Lawrence.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
09
Montriell Willis

Montriell Willis holing a picture of her brother Charlie Johnson Jr.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
10
Patrice Junius

Patrice Junius hold a picture of her daughter Christina Junius.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
11
Desiree Watson Jones

Desiree Watson Jones lost her son Yoshio Sockie Watson.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
12
Faye McClellan

Faye McClellan Hold a picture of her son Elvis McCllan Jr.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
13
Chandra Burks with Cameron and Vaughn

Chandra Burks with Cameron and Vaughn holding apicture of her son Jared Francis.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
14
Evelyn Caro

Evelyn Caro holding pictures of Kerry, Henry and Eric.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
15
Deirdre Hall and Cassandra Smoot

Deirdre Hall and Cassandra Smoot holing a picture of Hall’s son and Smoot’s nephew Kenneth.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
16
Michelle Jackson

Michelle Jackson holding a picture of her son Walter Jackson.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
17
Joann Girod

Joann Girod holding pictures of her daughter and son Shawna Girod and Willy Odom.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss
18
Charmaine Washington and Deverrick Johnson

Charmaine Washington and Deverrick Johnson holding a picture of Washington’s son and Johnson’s brother Darius Johnson.

A Mother's Prayer Vigil 2015: Love, Life and Loss