RICHMOND, Va. -- Alicia Rasin, a stalwart of the Richmond community and advocate for families of homicide victims, was laid to rest Saturday.
Through songs, prayers and and scripture, mourners gathered at St. Paul's Baptist Church to remember the pioneer and visionary.
"Alicia would never rest,” said Dr. Willie Woodson, one of her close friends.
Alicia Rasin died last week in her Church hill home with family by her side.
"She's broken so many barriers, racial barriers, and political barriers, economic and socio-economic barriers, but to us she's our aunt,” Rasin’s nephew said.
Alicia Rasin
The 62-year-old known as the "Ambassador of Compassion" was a force of nature and worked to ease the pain of anyone suffering from the sudden loss of a loved one.
"She perhaps was the most important, unappointed, unelected, unrecognized citizen that Richmond had,” Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones said.
Rasin comforted countless families of homicide victims through candlelight prayer vigils.
"She boldly went to the most dangerous and troubled communities where other would not dare venture in to,” Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said.
Alicia Rasin's funeral.
As Founder of Citizens Against Crime, Rasin built and unbreakable bond between police and neighbors that spanned for three decades. That trust had a major impact on reducing crime.
"Whenever you hear the name Alicia Rasin, you ought to at least open up your mouth and tell somebody about the people she stood up for , the victims that she spoke up for, and the cause she gave her life for,” Rev. Dr. Emory Berry with Fourth Baptist Church said.
This woman of faith opened her heart and home to others, delivering Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to needy families. And although she is gone, her legacy will live on.
Alicia Rasin's funeral.
