Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: Jona Khaosanga (left) and Sara O’Brien joined others at the Downtown Greenway in the annual Greensboro Homeless Memorial Walk and Worship Service.
GREENSBORO — The homeless people who might have gone unnoticed by many were recognized by a group of Greensboro residents Wednesday night.
Lee B., Roscoe B., Virgil B., Irvin L., James “Turtle” D., Randy F., Ayuub S., Betty Ann S., Libvey W. and Ron W.
Those 10 names represent the homeless people who died in 2009. They were posted on empty, green chairs arranged across a stage at Grace Community Church as the homeless ate during a Wednesday night dinner.
To commemorate the deaths, more than 50 people walked from Greensboro Urban Ministry at 305 W. Lee St., along the Downtown Greenway, to the church at 643 W. Lee St.
“We’re going to remember those people who died,” said the Rev. Mike Aiken, executive director of the ministry. “We’re hoping and praying for the day when no one, no family will be homeless.”
Cindy and Edward Waters said they have helped feed and clothe the homeless, but this was their first time participating in the walk.
“I think it’s a really good idea because they’re sort of marginalized in our society,” Cindy Waters said. “It’s really good to respect them, mention their names.”
The word “Unknown” was posted on an 11th chair to signal that there could be more people who died homeless.
Aiken said one person died in the hospital of complications from the flu. Others could have died on the street.
Mary Warren, a volunteer at the church’s women’s shelter, was once a patron who was jobless and addicted to drugs and alcohol.
She said some people would rather sleep under a bridge than inside a shelter.
“They’re just too proud, some of them are,” she said. “I tried to talk to them but everybody’s got their own brain.”
Agencies associated with the Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County unofficially tallied 10 deaths in the county this year. Over the past several years, the number of deaths has ranged from 8 to 15 annually, Aiken said.
The coalition and thousands of other homeless advocacy groups in the U.S. sponsor memorial services near the winter solstice to remember the homeless who died.
The solstice occurs Monday, the shortest day of the year when the sun’s maximum position in the sky is the lowest. Below-freezing temperatures pose a large threat to the homeless.
“During the darkest of times, we’re trying to bring light to the issue,” Aiken said.
Monday is also National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, which will be celebrated in Greensboro by declaration of Mayor Bill Knight.
Aiken said 2,000 people in Guilford are without homes, citing statistics from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and Guilford County Schools.
The next count will be held at various homeless shelters the first Wednesday in January, he said.
Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com