Vigil held for family massacred in NW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A week after six children and their parents were murdered in their home and tonight the community remembered the lives lost with a vigil.

It was a time to remember something that is still very hard to comprehend.

"We are here to remember the children and the family that we ministered to and remember their lives," said the pastor.

PHOTOS: Scene where 6 children and 2 adults were found dead

The deceased are Dwayne Jackson, 50, and Valerie Jackson, 40, and six children -- Nathaniel, 13; Honesty, 11; Dwayne, Jr., 10; Caleb, 9; Trinity, 7; and Jonah, 6. The victims were found in each of the three bedrooms inside the house.

Liberation Baptist Church is small by some standards but it has a popular vacation Bible school that until this summer the Jackson children attended.

The pastor saw them at a grocery store only two weeks before they were killed.

"I wanted to see how they were doing and it was nice to greet the mom, greet the kids. It was an awesome opportunity to get to reach out to them at that moment. I never knew that that was going to be the last time," said Reverend Jezer Urena with Liberation Baptist Church.

From that the tragedy has directed the pastor's attention to what caused the deaths of an entire family.

"It really sends a stark message to us and tells us that - domestic violence on any level - we have to expose it," he said. "We have to come out."

It was a service of reflection that shined the light on domestic violence, a light in the darkness and in loving memory.

"You'll be missed but you won't be forgotten," said Urena.

Funeral services for the family are set for Monday.

David Conley, 48, is in custody, charged with capital murder following the deaths of 2 adults and 6 children.