Anti-gun violence groups holds Prayer Walk 4 Our City in Ocala

Areshia Johnson and Theresia Douglas participated in the Prayer Walk 4 Our City in Ocala on July 6, hosted by War Cry 4 Peace, in memory of their brother and uncle Willie “Willo” Douglas Jr. [Andy Fillmore]

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Posted July 7, 2023 | By Andy Fillmore, andy@ocalagazette.com

Relatives of victims of gun violence joined members of the community for a Prayer Walk 4 Our City on Thursday, July 6, in northwest Ocala to bring attention to the issue of gun related crimes.

The Marion County community has been rocked this year – New Year’s Day saw two shooting deaths on Southwest 5th Street and several shooting homicides have occurred over the last few weeks. Ajike “A.J.” Owens’ June 2 shooting death while knocking on neighbor’s closed door garnered national attention; 17-year-old Lezarius “Lee” Graham was found deceased on June 7; and, about two weeks later, 18-year-old Tylique Le’John Christie died at a local hospital after suffering a gunshot wound. Roovens Pierre, 30, was shot on a street in northwest Ocala on July 1 and later died.

The prayer walk was organized by the local anti-gun violence group War Cry 4 Peace and several members of the group joined the walk.

Group text messages before the prayer walk stated the organization seeks “justice, closure, unity, change and peace” for the community.

Kimberly Wilkerson, founder and president of War Cry 4 Peace, said the prayer walk had a “great turnout, but more importantly all our hearts were there to sincerely pray.” Wilkerson stated many people told her they were also “praying at home or work, even though they were not (at the prayer walk).”

“This is the beginning of a ‘SHIFT,’ and the miracles God will bring to our city and community,” Wilkerson said and wrote in person and text messages.

About 25 marchers held signs with images of loved ones or friends and signs with messages like “We Must Pray” and “No More Gun Violence.”

The prayer walk started at Howard Academy Community Center (HACC) at 306 N.W. 7th Avenue, continued about two blocks to West Silver Springs Boulevard, then headed west to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, traveled to Northwest 4th Street and returned to HACC.

At least two Ocala Police Department officers accompanied the marchers.

Charnelle Gibson offered a continuous prayer on a loudspeaker during the roughly 45-minute walk and prayer service afterward.

Yvonne Raines carried a poster-size photo of her son, Jairah Raines Sr., who was killed Feb. 18, 2016.

An online obituary at legacy.com gives his age as 26 and notes he had three children.

Monique Weeks held a sign that read “Stop Gun Violence” with an attached photo of her brother, John Marcus Weeks, who died Feb 16, 2023, at age 33.

Theresia Douglas and Areshia Johnson held a picture of Willie “Willo” Douglas Jr., Theresia’s brother and Johnson’s uncle.

The National Gun Memorial website states that Jairah McCloud Raines was “lost to gun violence on February 18, 2016 in Ocala, Florida; Weeks was “lost to gun violence on February 16, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida”; and Willie Douglas,45, was “lost to gun violence on August 27, 2022 in Ocala, Florida.”

An online Snow’s Funeral Home and Cremation Services states Douglas left a “host” of cousins nieces and nephews, along with Douglas and Johnson.

An announcement by War Cry 4Peace calling for the prayer walk included the names of A.J.Owens, Delvontaye Boyd, Telva Shenita Burton, Benetria Robinson, Antonio Gordon, Zaki Thomas and Master Bracey, and the words “these lives mattered.”

To learn more, go to warcry4peace.org