Organizers of United in Christ Against Violence are planning a community-wide prayer gathering Monday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at Railroad Park in downtown Brookhaven for the eight people shot to death in May 2017 — Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy William Durr, Brenda May, Barbara Mitchell, Toccora May, Jordan Blackwell, Austin Edwards, Ferral Burage and Sheila May Burage.

The event is “in memory of all the lives lost and in honor of those who remain yet were so deeply affected by the horrific events of the 2017 Memorial Day weekend,” said Shayla Edwards, mother of Austin Edwards and Jordan Blackwell’s aunt.

The capital murder trial of Willie Cory Godbolt is set to begin Monday with jury selection in DeSoto County then move to Pike County Courthouse in Magnolia for about two weeks of testimony.

“We will also be praying for the upcoming trial as it relates to grieving families, victims, jurors, law enforcement, the district attorney and his staff and our community of Southwest Mississippi during the trial,” she said.