JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Six years ago, gunfire in on the Northside killed 8-year-old Dreshawna Davis.
"Dreshawna very courageously had covered her two cousins. And that is very reminiscent of what we just saw of teachers covering the other children," said family attorney, Robert Slama.
Four years later, a bullet killed 16-year-old Tiphne Hollis while she was riding through a Westside neighborhood. "You still miss your child. You want your child to be here with you," said her mother, Shonda Whitaker.
Vigils will be held in both of their names on Thursday night. But this time, 26 more people will be added to their prayers: the staff, teachers and students of Sandy Hook Elementary.
"I cried and cried that night when I heard about what happened to those babies," said Whitaker. "It's so sad how we are losing our babies. It's so sad."
Strangers will come together and walk through the streets. They will hold hands in prayer for all of the lives lost. "It hurts when they take a part of us away. It hurts very much. It's something we will never, never, never forget," said Whitaker.
"In the midst of tragedy, good will always triumph over evil," said Slama.
They are coming together here in Jacksonville because they say it's the only way changes can be made to keep others from feeling their pain.
A candlelight vigil was also held in Brunswick for Newtown and slain Glynn County Commissioner, Tom Sublett, at the WAY radio station.
