Grieving mother opens candlelight vigil for all families affected by murder

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the murder rate rising in Jacksonville in 2020, a local mom wants to help those who have lost loved ones.

After her son died in his car nearly two years ago, Tina Gray formed a support group, Compassionate Warriors Inc., to help other families dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one.

Knowing that the holidays are a tough time for these families, Gray holds a candlelight vigil at Memorial Park in Riverside Saturday at 6 p.m.

Gray said her 20-year-old son loved Christmas.

“That was one of his favorite vacations,” Gray said. “It’s not the same.”

Since the death of Trevor Gray, Tina has watched as more families lose loved ones to violence. Records from News4Jax indicate that 171 murders were committed so far in 2020. Of these, 137 were classified as murders by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

For Tina, the rising murder rate has made her mission stronger.

“Grief strikes,” said Gray. “It gives them the chance to unite with others who are going through the same thing, so they don’t feel so alone. We do what we can to support each other. “

Families are invited to talk about their loved ones and are encouraged to bring a toy to the Jacksonville vigil for children in need.

For Gray, she created a small monument in front of her home to ensure that the memory of her son lives on. That is a message that was made clear by the praying hand she placed above his name.