Decatur prayer service planned for Sunday at 5 p.m.
Oct. 7—A dozen local pastors are joining to hold a prayer service at Decatur City Hall on Sunday at 5 p.m. relating to strife over the killing of Steve Perkins by Decatur police.
"Many of us in our community are feeling sadness, pain, anger, fear, hopelessness and helplessness. Let us stand together and lift Steve's family and our entire community up during this painful time," the pastors said in a joint statement.
Prayers at the gathering, according to the statement, will include those for Perkins' family, for a thorough and transparent investigation, "for our police chief, our officers and their families," and "for peace and healing for all who are feeling anger, pain, fear, sadness or despair in our community."
The pastors who joined in the statement are Jerry Baker of St. Peter Missionary Baptist, Ted Amey of the Church at Stone River, Harold Gilmore of Moulton Heights Church of Christ, Edward Owens of Shiloh Missionary Baptist, Daylan Woodall of First Missionary Baptist, Joel McKaig of Decatur Baptist, Regina Willingham of God's Love Covenant, Steve Bateman of First Bible, Justin McAlpin of Westmead Baptist, George Sawyer of Calvary Assembly, Robert Hatfield Jr. of Central Baptist and Daryl Little of Daystar Church.
Perkins, 39, was killed Sept. 29. Numerous protests have taken place since his death. His funeral was Saturday morning in Courtland.
— eric@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2435. Twitter @DD_Fleischauer.
