Speakers advocate vaccination at memorial for COVID-19 victims

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook staff writer

Hundreds of miniature white crosses and tiny American flags lined the front lawn of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where a COVID-19 memorial ceremony Sunday had the tone of a funeral.

The solemn event under overcast skies at times also had the aura of a traditional worship service. It was billed for the 310 people who died in Leon County from COVID-19 during the past year since the disease struck the country.

Throughout the 30-minute ceremony, speakers used the platform to advocate taking any of three available vaccines against the virus.  Former city commissioner Elaine Bryant, director of the Local Coronavirus Vaccination Community Education and Engagement Task Force, led the call for vaccination.

“As we reflect this morning on those who have given up their lives and succumbed to this coronavirus, I say to all of you and those who will listen in the future that our present should be informed by our past,” she said. “Our past tells us that this virus can actually take lives. So let us, as we live in the present and plan for the future remember today. Remember our loved ones and understand that we too can have a positive impact on where we go in our future.”

Rev. James Wright led a prayer for the families of those claimed by the virus, and music director Cassandra Poole sung an acapella version of “We will remember.” 

“We look at these crosses and we think and remember the lives that have gone on to glory,” said City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox. “We shall never forget because there are empty spaces at tables; holes in hearts.

“I’m here to tell you that God is a healer and God can heal that hole in your heart. God can also heal and cure us from this virus.  He’s proven that.”

Vaccination has become the mantra over the last few months, as several pop-up sites have been announced. Leon County Department of Health has sponsored 28 vaccination clinics. The agency also said in its most recent update last Thursday that the county has administered 138,624 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

 In a breakdown, it said more than 88,400 people have been vaccinated, with 50,206 of them receiving Moderna, Pfizer vaccine doses or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson dose.

“In honor of those lives that we have lost,” said at-large County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, “I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to become vaccinated so that together we can turn the tables on this deadly virus.”

She also suggested that anyone with doubts about the vaccine get educated.

Rev. RB Holmes, who initiated the task force last December, suggested that individuals should help to educate each other.

“This is the right thing to do,” said Holmes, pastor at Bethel. “We must be our brothers’ and our sisters’ keepers so you must spread the word.”

Holmes pointed out that his congregation has been affected by the virus, causing some deaths. “Probably everyone here knows someone who has been impacted by the coronavirus,” he told the audience of mostly churchgoers.

While there is concern that many in Black underserved communities aren’t being reached with the vaccine, the health department said it has partnerships with the United Way, 2-1-1 Big Bend and Lyft to provide transportation to vaccination sites.

Holmes also announced that Bethel is in the process of purchasing a mobile medical unit in addition to forming another task force made up of millennials. He also reiterated that the goal is to get 70 percent or more of the Black population vaccinated by the end of the year.

 “Let’s not lose anymore lives to this virus,” said Williams-Cox. “There is healing in the land.

“It doesn’t matter which one (of the vaccines). Without the vaccine you could become one of these crosses and we do not want that.”