Corpus Christi honors lives lost to homelessness at annual memorial

Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and community members gathered in Corpus Christi to remember those who have died experiencing homelessness.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Early Friday morning, the Corpus Christi community came together to honor those who have died while living on the streets. 

Local nonprofit groups, including the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities, joined neighbors, volunteers, and the Corpus Christi Police Department to pay their respects to the city’s most vulnerable residents.

The annual memorial serves as both a time to remember those who have lost their lives and a call to action for the community. 

After the ceremony, attendees walked to the bay to release flowers into the water, a symbolic gesture of remembrance and hope.

For many, the event is also a reminder of the ongoing need to support those experiencing homelessness. 

Community leaders emphasized that everyone deserves a safe place to live and encouraged Corpus Christi residents to help neighbors in need.

Eddie Jackson-Mathis, board member of the Homeless Issues Partnership, spoke about their 25-year tradition of honoring those who died homeless in Corpus Christi.

“Dying on the streets and dying homeless is preventable, and we all need to do something to change that.” Jackson-Mathis also encouraged community involvement to support and guide those experiencing homelessness.

One resident, Jerry Burns, knows that struggle firsthand. After losing his mother, Burns found himself living in a van on the streets. He credits a local shelter, Mother Teresa’s, with giving him a safe space and a sense of purpose. “I was offered a job one day, and at that point, I needed something to get my mind off my sorrow,” Burns said. “I feel like they’ve taken care of me ever since.”

Burns hopes the community will continue to support people experiencing homelessness. “We can’t forget those who have passed away, but we also can’t forget the people still here who need help,” he said. “This war on homelessness will never end, and we just have to keep on keeping on.”