This week, I was reminded of one of the most heartbreaking incidents I have reported on since I began working for The Selma Times-Journal, which was the murder of 18-year-old Selma High student Alexis Hunter.

It’s nearly been a year since I wrote about how that tragedy affected Alexis’ family and friends, and that same sorrow I felt when I first reported on it still resonates with me today. I can only hope that the family gets the support they need to help face the ongoing pain they’ve felt since the Dec. 21, 2013 incident Sunday at the Alexis Hunter Love Stops the Violence Foundation’s prayer vigil.

Although we all didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Alexis, the bond Selma has built as a community should motivate us to help her family get through this unfortunate loss. Sunday is a perfect time for Selma to unite for a great cause.

We can put aside whatever differences we may have, and show Alexis’ family that we care enough to suppport them and celebrate Alexis’ inner beauty.

The way Alexis’ family describes Alexis leads me to think she was truly special with a sweet heart and loving personality. Like any good mother, Joann Hunter wants her daughter’s vibrant spirit to live on, and I do too.

Like Joann and Alexis’ Aunt Patricia Bailey, I want the public to leave the vigil knowing that violence is not the answer, and they should approach life situations in the same loving way Alexis did. With violence being Selma’s biggest issues, we could all use a lot more love.

Bailey summed up the situation best when she spoke about the horrific outcome that often follows violent acts.

“[Violence] goes further than the person that died and the family,” Bailey said. “It affects more people than you would believe.”

Hopefully, this vigil will teach people who have considered handling their issues with violence how devastating it can be to the community. Even if you don’t lose a loved one, you have to deal with the fear of either being the next victim or having someone close to you be the victim.

Joann talks about how much she misses her daughter and how she walks around numb, even a year after the tragic incident. I don’t want anyone else to have to bear that same pain, because a senseless crime ended his or her loved one’s life.

The least Selma can do is learn from this tragedy and all of the others that have happened in this city due to our high crime rate.

While I’m confident the impact Alexis has made on others has already convinced several to attend Sunday’s vigil, I want to remind the public that your attendance would be greatly appreciated.

For more information about the prayer vigil, call Bailey at (334) 536-2021.