CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On Monday, faith leaders held a virtual prayer vigil for the 100,000 people who have died in the U.S. from COVID-19.

Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice co-chair and Social Justice for United Missionary Baptist Association chair Rev. Glencie Rhedrick said the Lament & Mourn 100K event was part of the National Day of Mourning and Lament.

“We felt it was worthy to raise the awareness of the deadliness of the disease and I’m calling it a disease right now because that’s what it appears to be and act as. But we wanted to let the families know, in particular, that we are experiencing the loss just as they are,” Rhedrick says.

During the interfaith service, those who tuned in heard from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Spanish-speaking faith leaders.

“It’s important to let it be shown and let it be seen that COVID has no respect… of people, color, culture, faith, gender, identity. It has no specific person or groups of people to attack, offend and kill,” Rhedrick says.  

During the vigil, a slideshow also played showing the pictures of those who have died of COVID-19.

Debbie Barger from Huntersville, who lost her sister Lougenie Walker, submitted a picture of her to be shown during the service.

Lougenie, 69, passed away on May 28 after battling COVID-19.

“I really embraced and loved her love of life. Her simple faith in God, her love of other people. Just her genuine spirit,” Debbie says.

Debbie watched the service with her husband Jim and two pastors at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville.

Debbie and Jim who are both parishioners at that church said the interfaith service made them feel less alone.

“We have that solidarity of grief together and support that we can be to each other so that was a huge reminder for me and just a huge comfort,” Debbie says.

The Bargers plan to host a small funeral for Lougenie, which is not the one they imagined.

“Genie was so gregarious and so much of a joy in other people’s hearts, that I know there would’ve been hundreds of people at her funeral,” Jim says.

During the event, pastors also honored George Floyd and other black Americans who have died due to police violence or vigilante justice.

The vigil also aimed to allow people to mourn, begin the process of healing, and commit to act together to end racism.