Three candles, countless memories: Central Alabama families skate to honor lives lost to violence
BESSEMER, Ala. —
Families from across central Alabama came together Thursday night to remember three lives taken too soon and call for an end to violence in their communities.
Community advocate Harry “Traveling Shoes” Turner organized the event, trading his signature shoes for roller skates to support families grieving loved ones. The gathering honored Turner’s cousin, Stanley Turner, Jr., Homewood native Aniah Blanchard and 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney.
For Turner, the connection between skating, survival and gun safety is personal. At 11 years old, he accidentally shot himself with his mother’s gun. Doctors feared he might never walk again, but skating became part of his recovery.
Now, he uses it as a way to give back and create a safe space for children and families affected by gun violence.
Turner’s cousin was shot and killed in October 2019. That same month, Blanchard and McKinney disappeared in separate cases before they were later found dead. Turner said the losses shook him to his core. Families circled the rink together, offering support to others who understood the pain of losing a loved one.
“I go from this person who’s always showing up, doing vigils, trying to be strong for families,” Turner said. “Now I’m them. I’m joining a club I did not want to join. I’m them, and it took a while to regroup and get myself back together to know I can’t stop the work. I can’t stop the work. Here it is seven years later. It was just fitting. This is that month. This is during that same period of time where we lost all those lives.”
Cierra Dozier, who was five months pregnant with her son, Jzaari, when the child’s father was shot and killed, brought her family to be surrounded by other people who have dealt with similar loss. Dozier said she misses having someone she could call when she needed to vent or talk about things she could not share with others. She hopes her plea will keep another family from experiencing the same pain.
“Just put the gun down,” Dozier said. “It’s so much other things to do. Just walk away — turn the other cheek. Ain’t nobody know better than God. If God can turn the other cheek, you can too.”
Three candles burned beside the rink as a reminder that the memories of those being honored continue to shine through the people who loved them. Despite the grief that brought many families together, Turner wanted the children at the event to find joy and community on the rink.
