Barney Simms: Vigial Held for Popular Atlanta Community Leader

Metro Atlanta

Photos: Vigil for slain community leader Barney Simms

A vigil in honor of Barney Simms is held in the Bonnybrook neighborhood of southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. He was killed April 9.

Community members join hands for prayer during an April 12, 2016, vigil in honor of Barney Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday. On Saturday, April 9, a well-known community member and leader, Barney Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard Saturday. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Wendy Johnson (center) gets emotional during a vigil in honor of Barney Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard on April 9, 2016. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Natalie Jones (center), daughter of Barney Simms, is helped to a car during a vigil held April 12, 2016 in honor of Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood 6. On Saturday, April 9, Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Loumerrel Gray, who found the body of Barney Simms On April 9, joins the vigil in honor of Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. On Saturday, April 9, a well-known community member and leader, Barney Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard Saturday. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

An address plaque of Barney Simms is covered by vine on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. On Saturday, April 9, a well-known community member and leader, Barney Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard Saturday. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Fulton County Chairman John Eaves speaks to community members during a vigil in honor of Barney Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. On Saturday, April 9, well-known community member and leader Barney Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

The Rev. Gerald Durley (center) speaks to community members during a vigil in honor of Barney Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Dianna Smith (right) and Wendy Johnson embrace during a vigil against the violence that took the life of well-known community member and leader Barney Simms. On April 9, Simms was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard Saturday. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Community members embrace during an April 12, 2016, vigil for Barney Simms, who was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard on April 9. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

John T. Jewell (center) leads a prayer during a vigil in honor of the late Barney Simms and to stand against violence in the Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. On April 9, Barney Simms, an activist and community leader, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard Saturday. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Linda Boatwright, who was a church member with the late Barney Simms, brings flowers to place in front of Simms' home before a vigil begins in his honor on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

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Community members join hands for prayer during an April 12, 2016, vigil in honor of Barney Simms and to stand against violence in Bonnybrook neighborhood on Tuesday. On Saturday, April 9, a well-known community member and leader, Barney Simms, was shot and killed in his southwest Atlanta front yard Saturday. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

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