Detroit remembers COVID-19 victims with stunning public park tribute

More than 1,500 residents in Detroit have died due to COVID-19 in the past few months

Aug 31, 2020

coronavirus COVID19 Detroit thegrio.com — (Credit: screenshot)

The over 1,500 COVID-19 victims in Detroit who have lost their lives to the virus were honored in a day-long memorial at Belle Isle.

According to The Detroit News, Monday, thousands of residents drove into the island Park off Jefferson to view a public display of 907 billboard-sized posters of loved locals and first responders who passed away between March and Aug. 18.

coronavirus COVID 19 thegrio.com — TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 12: Marlon Warren, a mortician assistant prepares a funeral service for a man who died of COVID-19 at Ray Williams Funeral Home on August 12, 2020 (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Among those being honored was Frances Bazel, a widely loved “community mother” who over the years took in 10 foster children. According to her granddaughter, Ericka Murria, she died April 4 from COVID-19, all alone.

“We got a call in the middle of the night that she couldn’t breathe,” recalled Murria, 37, whose family thought the matriarch would be safe from the virus while undergoing rehabilitation at a Detroit nursing home. “It continued to spiral downward. COVID attacked her major organs, pneumonia came about, and she went into a coma.”

DETROIT _ On the eve of Detroit Memorial Day, we make final preparations for the Memorial Drive Around Belle Isle to honor loved ones lost to Covid-19. We have 900 photos, repping 1,500 our city has lost. So proud of the team that made this happen. ⁦⁦⁦@CityofDetroit⁩ pic.twitter.com/3A6Ry3Hbil
— Rochelle Riley (@rochelleriley) August 30, 2020

Unfortunately, due to health mandates, the family wasn’t able to see Bazel or sit by her bedside as she took her last breath.

“I could not fight for her when she could not fight for herself,” a distraught Murria added tearfully.

As Murria and her family approached the billboard put up in honor of her grandmother, Bill Withers‘ “Ain’t No Sunshine” began to play on the blues music station they had tuned into on the radio.

“It’s almost like we saw her,” she said. “I know I couldn’t hide my tears after that.”

“This city was hit harder than most. We took it seriously together, as partners,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday.

She and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to kick off the memorial day with remarks near the bridge entrance at Jefferson and East Grand Boulevard.

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