GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro police recorded 74 homicides in 2023.
Saturday afternoon, Mother's Standing Against Gun Violence held it's annual memorial to honor loved ones lost to homicide.
Law enforcement around the Triad, elected officials and dozens of families filled the Warnersville Community Recreation Center.
74 candles shaped in a heart were lit one-by-one to represent each life taken. For Jatana Lovett it's about 4 months since she lost her 20-year-old son Tyrek Wilson.
"Just thinking of him when they announced his name, it brought tears to me," Lovett recalled.
Greensboro police said Wilson was brutally stabbed to death in early October. GPD arrested his former girlfriend Persia Debra Ann Scales who is allegedly charged with Wilson's murder.
Lovett said not having her son at her wedding was heartbreaking.
"We had a picture of him at the wedding and we were just thinking about him," she said.
Wilson's brothers told WFMY News 2 they were all musicians in their church.
"We're supposed to hang up a banner in our church where he used to play the bass guitar." Jaki'ree Wilson said.
Wilson's other brother Zaykeese told us they both share the same birthday.
"I don't know how I'm going to celebrate my birthday the same way it used to be," Zaykeese Hart said.
The family said faith and prayer keeps them going.
"I'll tell each and everybody out here, pray over your children and anoint them," Lovett said.
A memorial is set in Downtown Greensboro near the Melvin Municipal Office with the 74 pictures of the lives lost.
GPD said some of these homicides are unsolved. You can call Greensboro/Guilford County Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 to report a crime anonymously.