They are names that frequent the police blotter: Scoco Park and The Strip and, to a lesser extent, the Weldon housing projects.

(The complete set of photos may be seen on our Facebook page)

The infamy of the places, however, didn't stop a small group of people this morning from marching through them, many praying out loud as law enforcement led them through the communities.

At Three Flags Grocery, which is in the heart of The Strip, one person asked for prayer and Touche Lawson gladly obliged as a person only identified as a prayer warrior named Gwen prayed along, holding a cross and at, one point, speaking in tongues.

Isaac watches with his Bible at Three Flags, left, while Lawson and the

group have a final prayer at the Weldon housing projects.

As they made their way toward Maple Street, where Edwards allegedly killed Brandon Peterson, Gwen chanted, “Blood of Jesus.”

Earlier in Scoco Park, Lawson stopped at a house with red trim and shutters to pray simply because she felt it needed a blessing. At the end of the procession at the Weldon housing projects, another person requested prayer, Gwen holding the cross to a child's head as she and Lawson prayed.

As they assembled at Weldon High School, LaTarsha Thomas-Debro, Weldon's librarian, said the recent spate of violence, involving young men from Weldon — Peterson and Lorenzo Tann Jr., who was killed in Roanoke Rapids allegedly by Edwards — has been bothered her. “I was pretty troubled by it. Being librarian, I consider myself a leader in the community and want it to be a safe environment. I support the cause to let our citizens know we want to take back our streets.”

Clarence High is a chief court counselor for the Department of Juvenile Justice. “I'm just concerned about the violence in the community and want to be part of anything to make the community more aware.”

High believes to combat the problem, the first step is for parents to be involved with their children. “They need to know what they're doing and when they're doing it. So many kids just seem to be on their own, these are the very ones adopted into gangs.”

Weldon police Officer Jessica Sampson prays with Taylor, the organizer.

Weldon Mayor Julia Meacham participated in the march. The murders, she said, “Are crime and violence at their worst. I support any groups who are active in the community.”

At the Weldon housing projects Pamela Taylor, organizer of the march, said she already knows the next step. “We need to make sure we follow up and schedule another march and be more visible. We need to make sure we do this once a quarter and one more time before it gets cold. We need to change the venue.”

For Lawson, her participation was simple. “I guess it's because I'm passionate about prayer and really passionate about people.”

Lawson believes poverty plays a part in the violence because it breeds the drug war and lack of education. The second part, she said, is spirituality. “Our part is praying for God to make a change.”