NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A sign on Manson Street near the Diggs Town neighborhood now reads “D’Vurille Bailey Stop the Violence 757.”
It is a sign for change following the July 31, 2022, shooting death of D’Vurille Bailey at just 22-years-old.
“When I was a little girl, we were prohibited to come down the street. I have a brother that went…to prison on the street. I have an uncle that was killed on the street. Then my son was killed on the same street. That’s why it’s so important,” said Reginia Richardson-Bailey.
Richardson-Bailey is a longtime member of Stop the Violence 757. 10 On Your Side’s archive video shows her at the Clean Up event in late June 2022 in memory of Antonio Atkins.
Stop the Violence 757 holds clean-up event in Portsmouth
“[Richardson-Bailey] was a part of our board before losing her son to gun violence,” said Monica Atkins, founder of Stop the Violence 757. “She was out here doing the work before her son passed. It just shows it can happen to anybody…with me having to adopt Effingham Street in memory of my son. I found it would have been robbery if [I did] not support her with the steps to do the same for her son.”
The last two years have been “horrible” for Richardson-Bailey.
“I make it through with the support of friends and family and loved ones. It just makes it a little bit easier. It never gets better. It just gets a little bit easier to deal with,” said Richardson-Bailey.
‘It just makes my heart smile’: Norfolk mom hosts clean-up event in honor of late son
Many family members and friends gathered this weekend to celebrate a milestone and cut the ribbon for the new sign following several Clean Up events on Manson Street.
The two moms are hopeful more people will make a change in their community. Atkins said if anyone needs help along the way, “all they have to do is reach out.”
“It means a lot. Even though that person is not here anymore. You can still sometimes drive by the street, even though a tragedy happened…it gives you a little bit of peace,” said Richardson-Bailey.
During National Gun Violence Awareness Month, the group will share pictures of loved ones on billboards and plant orange pin wheels across the region to work toward change.
Stop the Violence 757 will host a private brunch for grieving moms on Mother’s Day.
June National Awareness Month For Gun Violence Events:
- June 8, Stop the Violence 757 bike ride with WNSB Hot 91.1 FM
- June 15, Stop the Violence 757 bike ride with the Portsmouth Police Department
“A lot of people can be triggered by what they see. We want them to be triggered by doing what’s right,” said Atkins.