In Memphis, Tennessee, a candlelight vigil meant to honor a life lost was tragically cut short, leaving a community to mourn another senseless death. Anthony Ford, a 52-year-old African American man, was killed on the evening of April 19, 2025, in a drive-by shooting that erupted in the city's Medical District. Ford, a cherished grandfather and a dedicated, longtime employee of the Memphis Parks Department, was attending a vigil for Alicia Stringfellow, a 38-year-old woman who had recently died
from a heart attack.
The somber gathering took a violent turn just moments after balloons were released in Stringfellow's memory. Gunfire suddenly pierced the air, striking five people, including a 14-year-old. In the chaos that ensued, Ford was fatally wounded. His life partner of 20 years, Kimberly Christian, described him as a 'gentle giant' with a big heart who was always ready to lend a hand to others. The couple had been looking forward to their wedding in June, a celebration to commemorate their two decades together.
Christian's grief was palpable as she spoke of the man she was planning to marry, a man who loved his family and his job with the city. Her public plea was for those responsible to surrender to the authorities, a desperate call to end the cycle of violence that had shattered her family. As of now, the investigation into Anthony Ford's murder is ongoing. Law enforcement has not yet announced any arrests or publicly identified any suspects in connection with the shooting. A community is left waiting for justice, remembering a kind and humble man whose life was taken while paying respects to another.
