I mean this with all due respect; why would you pray to someone you ‘respect’? Where in God’s Word does He tell us to pray to anyone but Him or His Son?
What other people do you respect and do you pray to them?
I humbly recommend reading the Bible thoroughly as your eyes will be opened. The Catholic church does not advocate reading it for yourself, I know.
In the case of Mary, we pray to her both out of respect and also to ask her, essentially, to put in a good word for us with her Son.
We also pray to other persons we consider to be holy (that’s not the word I want to use, but I can’t think of the word I want right now) asking that they intercede on our behalf. Sometimes they do, and when they do miracles occur. When that happens we recognize them as Saints.
Why not pray to John The Baptist? He was greater than Mary.
Matthew 11, Verse 11:
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.