Decatur churches ring bells to remember those who died from COVID-19

Beth Jackson-Jordan, a member of First Baptist Church of Decatur, holds a photo of her uncle Cecil Harman as she rings a bell in remembrance of the 200,000-plus people who have died in the United States during the pandemic. The church, along with several other churches in Decatur, rang their bell 200 times starting at noon Sunday, October 4, 2020, once for every 1,000 people who have died. Harman, a World War II veteran, died of COVID-19 in a nursing home in St. Louis in July. Family was not allowed to visit him due to the pandemic. (Photo: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Tahereh Ahdieh, of the Baha’i Faith, is shown how to ring a hand bell by Kathryn Hartgrove, the worship arts leader at First Baptist Church of Decatur, before a remembrance outside the church for the 200,000-plus people who have died in the United States during the pandemic. The church, along with several other churches in Decatur, rang their bell 200 times starting at noon Sunday, October 4, 2020, once for every 1,000 people who have died. (Photo: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Tolly Williamson rings a hand bell along with the First Baptist Church bell as his wife, Jerry Williamson, looks up at the church steeple during a remembrance outside the church for the 200,000-plus people who have died in the United States during the pandemic. The church, along with several other churches in Decatur, rang their bell 200 times starting at noon Sunday, October 4, 2020, once for every 1,000 people who have died. (Photo: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Erica Dotson, of the Baha’i Faith, attends a remembrance outside of First Baptist Church of Decatur for the 200,000-plus people who have died in the United States during the pandemic. The church, along with several other churches in Decatur, rang their bell 200 times starting at noon Sunday, October 4, 2020, once for every 1,000 people who have died. (Photo: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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Credit: Ben Gray

Beth Jackson-Jordan, a member of First Baptist Church of Decatur, holds a photo of her uncle Cecil Harman as she rings a bell in remembrance of the 200,000-plus people who have died in the United States during the pandemic. The church, along with several other churches in Decatur, rang their bell 200 times starting at noon Sunday, October 4, 2020, once for every 1,000 people who have died. Harman, a World War II veteran, died of COVID-19 in a nursing home in St. Louis in July. Family was not allowed to visit him due to the pandemic. (Photo: Ben Gray for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

By Staff Reports – AJC

Oct 4, 2020

Member of different religious faiths came together Sunday in Decatur to take part in a remembrance of coronavirus victims.

People began gathering at First Baptist Church of Decatur in the morning to be among those ringing hand bells as part of the event.

More than a dozen churches around Decatur planned to toll their bells 200 times beginning at noon, each ring to mark 1,000 people of the roughly 200,000 deaths in the United States attributed to COVID-19.

The Rev. David Jordan, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Decatur, said as word spread about Sunday’s event, he heard from other faith groups that wanted to come and stand on the church’s lawn, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and representatives of the Baha’i tradition.

Meanwhile in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, singer Dionne Warwick hosted the National COVID-19 Remembrance. Hundreds of empty chairs representing the lives lost due to COVID-19, were placed at The Ellipse, the park outside of the south side of the White House.

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Decatur churches ring bells to remember those who died from COVID-19

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