Tuesday night, dozens prayed outside the Dollar General where Deric Ford Sr. was gunned down one week ago.
Tears were shed, but there was a feeling of hope for the future as Ford's life was celebrated. That's what children of the 54-year-old say he would have wanted.
"We take the bad with the good. It's unfortunate that this happened, but some people still need help and there's people suffering. There a lot of people going through a lot in Baltimore," said Ford's son Kevin Brown.
"Don't stop after today. Don't stop after his funeral," said son Chris Ford. "Continue this love, this joyous feeling, this positivity throughout the community, throughout every single person that you meet."
Ford, a clerk at the Edmonson Village Dollar General, was closing up the store last Tuesday when he was robbed, shot and killed, according to police.
The killing struck a nerve in this West Baltimore community, as people here call for change.
"To see the type of impact that he had on the community, to see what type of legacy he's going to leave, it means a lot to me," said Chris Ford.
State Delegate Bilal Ali spoke at the vigil and says he's already met with the owner of Edmonson Village Shopping Center about helping make the area safer amid community concerns.
"We keep putting band-aids on problems that really need deeper surgery," he said.
The outpouring of support has brought a smile to the faces of Ford's children just days after his killing.
"It's just been wonderful. It definitely helped us grieve," said Chris Ford.
Over the weekend, Baltimore Police arrested 27-year-old Michael Thompson, who is now charged in Ford's death.
