Members of the Richmond community gathered online last week to remember homicide victims and their survivors at the Richmond Coalition Against Violence’s 30th Annual Holiday Memorial Program.

The coalition was founded by Linda S. Jordan as a way to cope with her son’s murder in 1990. The event was virtual as organizers sought to ensure the health and safety of those attending while maintaining a sense of emotional solidarity and communal grieving of past memorials.

“The coalition wanted the survivors to know they are not alone this holiday season,” Ms. Jordan said. “We wanted to send our encouragement and support, especially in this pandemic.”

The program, co-hosted by the City of Richmond’s Victim-Witness Services, included a roll call of those whose lives have been lost to violence and a keynote speech by Richmond General District Court Judge David M. Hicks. Judge Hicks, who grew up in New Jersey, was 14 when his father was murdered.

Judge Hicks shared how he has worked to recognize the death of his father and the good fortune of his life with his three sons in the ensuing years.

He and other speakers, including Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette W. McEachin, took the opportunity to widen the scope of the memorial’s recognition to those whose lives have been impacted by COVID-19 and have been left as survivors of another kind of tragedy.

“Our compassion, I think, would be remiss if we did not also recognize in a year such as this so many others who have lost a family member suddenly with this COVID that’s going around this holiday season,” Judge Hicks said. “I want us to make sure that we include all of those families in our prayers, because I think we know better than most what loss does and the continued effect of loss.”

Ms. Jordan said that COVID-19 may have moved the location for the memorial from City Hall to online, but it didn’t take away the spirit of the event. Still, she said, she missed the close and personal contact of past memorials.

“For 29 years we have given encouragement, hugs and hope,” Ms. Jordan said. “This year, we missed the close contact, hugs and fellowship with the survivors and their families and friends.”

As in previous years, a ribbon was dedicated to the memory of those lost to violence in 2020. The ribbon will be placed by members of Victim-Witness Services on “The River Of Tears,” a sculpture memorializing victims that was placed in the lobby of City Hall in 1996.

“I am so glad and grateful that you all asked me to be here,” Judge Hicks told the online group. “Being gathered even in this technological way with other individuals who have walked a similar path has its comfort in a way that others can’t understand.”