Selma friends, colleagues mourn the loss of popular youth mentor Mark Myles

Selma friends and colleagues on Saturday are mourning the loss of Mark Myles, who is widely regarded as one of the city’s most dedicated mentors and peacemakers, after he was shot and killed Friday night.

A Selma man was arrested Saturday in the Friday night shooting and charged with Myles' murder. Read more about that here.

Mark Myles was known throughout Selma for his work as a youth mentor, spent years working as a community outreach manager with the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation and local churches to intervene in conflicts, guide young people away from violence and support families in crisis.

On Saturday morning, Selma Mayor Johnny Moss issued a public statement expressing the city’s grief and honoring Myles’ legacy.

“We are grieving the tragic loss of Mark Myles, a devoted mentor, servant leader, and tireless advocate for our young people,” Moss wrote in a statement on social media. “Mark worked closely with the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation, dedicating his life to reaching both young men and young women, meeting them where they were and helping them see what they could become.”

Moss called Myles’ death “a profound void in our community” and urged residents to honor his legacy by continuing the work he championed.

“Violence cannot be allowed to define us,” Moss said. “The greatest way to honor Mark Myles is to carry forward his mission… choosing peace, affirming dignity, and continuing the work of building a Beloved Community.”

Pastor John Grayson of Gospel Tabernacle Church, a close friend of Myles, said the news left him stunned.

“Mark Myles was shot and killed last night… and that’s a sad thing,” Grayson said, adding Myles had a rare gift for reaching young people, especially those caught up in dangerous situations.

“He could talk those guys down. They would listen to him, and he really cared. They knew he really cared,” Grayson said. “Mark literally took guns out of their hands. He saved a lot of young men from the street.”

He described Myles as a bridge-builder who helped mend broken relationships and guide families through conflict.

“He was able to save the relationship between a lot of families that had differences with each other,” Grayson said. “Selma was blessed to have him… it’s a big void, especially with the younger people.”

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Myles was known for visiting schools, leading community circles and showing up wherever young people needed guidance. Friends say his ability to connect across generations and circumstances made him one of Selma’s most trusted voices.

“This young man could get to them,” Grayson said. “They would listen to him. That was the most unique, positive gift that he had.”

As Selma grapples with the loss, both city leaders and community members are calling for unity, prayer and a renewed commitment to the work Myles devoted his life to.

“Praying for Selma and all who are hurting today,” Mayor Moss wrote.

Selma City Schools posted a statement about the loss of Myles, saying he was a dedicated advocate for Selma’s students. 

“His unwavering commitment to nonviolence and education transformed many lives, particularly highlighted by his inspiring journey from his own time at Selma High School,” the statement said. “Mark's legacy includes the impactful Restorative Justice Circles he initiated at R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy, the Alternative Learning Center, and the high school, positively influencing countless young people. We honor his significant contributions while he worked at the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, and we will deeply miss his presence and passion in our schools.”

Myles' colleagues at Selma Truth and Reconciliation posted a tribute on Monday, which was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, that said: "Today as we celebrate the life of Dr. King, we mourn the devastating loss of one of Dr. King’s best dream builders, Mark Myles. Mark was a devoted father, son and brother. His devotion didn’t stop at serving his family but he worked daily to create a peaceful world where his son and all children could prosper and live out their purpose. Mark’s passion for youth and restorative justice was unparalleled. His mother raised him to be a man of faith and his faith made him determined to use his experiences getting into trouble as a youth to ensure that cycles of trouble didn’t continue for others. He was truly a servant leader.