A local organization will host a walk today to raise money to pay for the tombstones of the Pleasant Garden shooting victims.
In November, Mary Ann Holder shot and killed her two sons, Dylan Smith, 17, and Zack Smith, 14; her niece, Hana Suttles, 8; her nephew, Ricky Suttles, 17; and Dylan’s girlfriend, Makayla Woods, 15. Holder, 36, then committed suicide.
Today’s “Walk for Life” will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hagan-Stone Park, whether it’s rainy or sunny, organizers said. The money will go to a fund for the victims’ families managed by Pleasant Garden Baptist Church and will cover the cost of the children’s tombstones.
Isaiah Jackson, a walk organizer, said he and his friends wanted to bring the community together after the tragic shootings.
“I’m sure there will be some tears involved, but it will be more of an uplifting thing,” he said.
Jackson, who attended Southeast Guilford High School with Makayla Woods, said the goal is to raise $7,000 for the fund.
Rocky Smith, Holder’s ex-husband and the father of two victims, plans to give any excess money to another charity, Jackson said.
Registration for the walk will begin at 9 a.m. The entry fees are as follows:
Rocky Smith and Christina Smith, Holder’s daughter, will speak and perform music at the event, which will have other entertainment and refreshments. The J.P.F. Christian organization, whose name stands for “just pray for,” is co-hosting the event with Pleasant Garden Baptist Church.
Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise @news-record.com
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