Private funeral services for her were held at New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Secoriea lay in a clear coffin with gold trim and features with her full name printed in gold lettering across the front.<\/p>\n
Stuffed animals were arranged near her feet.<\/p>\n
The young girl wore a hot pink dress adorned with multi-colored pink flowers, white gloves that extended a little past her elbows and a tiara atop her head.<\/p>\n
As I walked in I said to myself, this hurts, said the Rev. Gregory A. Sutton, senior pastor of Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta, who later delivered the eulogy. I said to myself this hurts my heart. Im praying for this father, and this mother, and this mothers children. This family.<\/p>\n
Charmaine Turner, mother of Secoriea Turner, and her sons, peer into Secoriea's coffin during her home-going service at New Calvary Missionary Church in Atlanta's Sylvan Hills community, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. On July 4, 8-year-old Secoriea was shot dead by armed civilians in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer\/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)<\/p>\n
Credit: Alyssa Pointer<\/p>\n
Credit: Alyssa Pointer<\/p>\n
Several times during the service, Secorieas father, Secoriey Williamson, went up to the casket, leaned in and kissed his daughter. Later in the service, while a selection was being performed, mourners slowly made their way to the front of the church to hug and support the family.<\/p>\n
Sutton said he didnt come to politicize the moment or to give a speech, but to comfort and give the family the strength to face this obstacle. It is devastating to lose a child, he said.<\/p>\n
If there is ever a time we need the Lord, we need him now, said Sutton.<\/p>\n
The church was filled with more than a dozen floral arrangements, including one in the form of an 8, her age when she was killed. Another, a unicorn floral arrangement from her first grade teacher, Joya Florence and her classmates, was situated near a bouquet of pink flowers from Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore.<\/p>\n
The program was filled with photos of a smiling Secoriea at various stages of her young life. One featured her with a halo.<\/p>\n
Florence, her beloved first grade teacher, recalled the first time Secoriea, dressed in a pink tutu and carrying a unicorn backpack, came to her class.<\/p>\n
She was cute and bright with a smile to adore, she said. Florence recounted how she would began calling the roll in class. Many students said here or present. Secoriea said unicorn.<\/p>\n
Her backpack must have been filled with magic, she said, saying her student sprinkled laughter and joy among her classmates.<\/p>\n
Sutton told those gathered that they were not there for a funeral but rather a commencement, a graduation and a celebration.<\/p>\n
Secoriea, he said, had graduated from mortality to immortality. We know where she is, he said.<\/p>\n
The family would attend Jackson Memorial for church service, and Sutton said his daughter once attended school with Secorieas mother.<\/p>\n
Family and friends of Secoriea Turner present floral arrangements during her homegoing service at New Calvary Missionary Church in Atlanta's Sylvan Hills community, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. (Alyssa Pointer\/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)<\/p>\n
Credit: Alyssa Pointer<\/p>\n
Credit: Alyssa Pointer<\/p>\n
In a previous interview Charmaine Turner, said she took her children to church there because she wanted them to learn how to pray to God.<\/p>\n
Secoriea was shot while riding in a SUV her mother had been driving down the road in front of the south Atlanta Wendys where a police officer killed Rayshard Brooks.<\/p>\n
Charmaine Turner said a group started shooting at the vehicle as she was trying to go around a makeshift roadblock. She said when her daughter was hit, Secoriea called out to her.<\/p>\n
Sutton, in his eulogy, turned to the Bible and spoke of when David lost his son.<\/p>\n
He said that todays trying times, with the coronavirus pandemic and violence, people in the community must care and support one another.<\/p>\n
Black lives, Sutton said, do not take black lives . Black lives should encourage black lives.<\/p>\n
Speaking to those gathered, he said they cant bring Secoriea back but if you accept Christ, you can go to where she is.<\/p>\n
Sercorieas soul belongs to God, he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Mourners say goodbye to 8-year-old killed in Atlanta shooting - Atlanta Journal Constitution<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Private funeral services for her were held at New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Secoriea lay in a clear coffin with gold trim and features with her full name printed in gold lettering across the front. Stuffed animals were arranged near her feet. Continue reading