Hudson's Slain Relatives Remembered

Private Ceremony For Friends & Family Held After A Public Memorial, Jennifer Did Not Attend

(AP)  A church on the city's South Side was readied Monday for a private funeral service for the slain mother, brother and nephew of singer-actress Jennifer Hudson, a day after a public memorial that drew hundreds of friends, family and fans.

Nephew Julian King, 7, was a smart boy who loved jokes, and Jennifer Hudson's mother, 57-year-old Darnell Hudson Donerson, was excited by the coming election, mourners said Sunday in the memorial at Pleasant Gift Memorial Baptist Church.

That public gathering followed a private ceremony for friends and family. Jennifer Hudson did not attend either service.

Monday's private funeral for Donerson, Julian King and Jennifer Hudson's brother, 29-year-old Jason Hudson, was being held at Apostolic Church of God.

The three were found shot to death late last month, the adults in Donerson's home and Julian in a vehicle found several miles away.

No one has been charged in the shootings, although authorities call Julia Hudson's estranged husband, 27-year-old William Balfour, a "person of interest."

On Sunday, Julian's second-grade teacher read aloud from journals written by his classmates - including one who lamented that he didn't live long enough to become president.

With three of Julian's classmates standing by her side, Carmen Williams of Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy remembered him as a smart boy who liked to tell knock-knock jokes.

"When Julian raised his hand, he had that enthusiastic light in his eyes, and he always - always - had the right answer," Williams said.

Shari Sweat, a cousin of Donerson, called her by her nickname, "Doll," as she recounted how important Tuesday's election was to her.

"Doll refused to be left out of this historical moment in this nation, and before she left these shores, she cast her vote," Sweat said.

Jason Hudson's cousin, the Rev. Quentin Washington, reminded mourners that he would have turned 30 on Feb. 17. Washington said Hudson recently joked about getting older, saying "his Afro was getting thin."

Sean Howard, executive assistant to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, said he was with the Hudson family when they went to the medical examiner's office last week to identify Julian's body.

"When Jennifer and her family walked in, Jennifer was a pillar in that room," Howard said. "You have a true leader in your family in Jennifer."


Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.

[hypnotoad72]

"Slain"? What were they, fire breathing dragons?!

They were murdered. Such neatening up of a vicious act is ironically the most vulgar thing imaginable.

[patty101558]

Jennifer I don''t know you or your family but my prayers are for you and your sister ....May God lay his healing hands a pond you and your sister and keep you safe as you strive to move forward....as you know your family is looking though heaven''s windows and saying we are wonderful we love you .....

with much respect and love

patricia

[dragyn30]

bp102164

I read in another news source that she was indeed there and the singer Fantasia held her hand as she sang one of the hymns.

It may be possible that she was well protected and not an obvious attendee. One of the news reports had reported that a barrier of some kind was put up at the rear of the Church to keep people from seeing inside - this was probably how she arrived.

Blessings to all of the Hudson family.

[bp102164]

Why the heck didn''t Jennifer attend the funeral???

[vcofreason]

I wonder if people truly are like the way they post here. I can''t imagine being so disrespectful to another person in my every day life. When I post here, I try to be considerate of others and at the very least, to be kind on a thread about someone who just lost their mom, brother and nephew.

It makes me sad that people are the way they are today.

[excoachken]

Hudson''s brother was shot with his own gun. What a great idea to mave a weapon at the ready for an intruder to kill you. I''ll bet he wishes he never listened to that line of krap from the NRA about "gettin'' a gun."

[cjw3cma]

"Drugs are Death" - that is the first sign visitors to Singapore see when leaving their plane. Here in America drugs are the death of too many people, like the innocents in the Hudson murders. But not all were innocent and that is fact. When members of your family are involved in drugs, everyone is a target for the other side, as we saw here.

[dragyn30]

moose2riches - your comments here are disrespectful and inappropriate - go someplace else to be ignorant!


My heart goes out to the Hudson family and may your strength guide you. There are hundreds of people who love and support you all!

[vcofreason]

I don''t care who you are, where you come from, what color you are, what party you belong to, this is one horrifyingly sad story. My heart goes out to the Hudson family and any family who must bury a loved one due to domestic violence. May those who remain somehow find peace.