Hudson Receives Outpour of Support at Slain Relatives Funeral

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Former American Idolwinner Fantasiaperformsby Lesley R. Chinn

Hundreds of family members,friends, celebrities, and numerouselected officials paid their finalrespects on Monday for the slainmother, brother, and nephew ofactress-singer Jennifer Hudson.

Attendees at the invitation-onlyfuneral service said Hudson wascomposed when she paused to viewthe bodies of her relatives beforegiving her mother a kiss for the finaltime. Her faith in God is carryingher through this. She was able toembrace her faith, family andfriends that were there and I thinkthat was a comfort to her, saidClergy leader and activist Rev. PaulJakes, pastor of the Old St. PaulM.B. Church.

Mayor Richard M. Daley; Rev.Jesse L. Jackson Sr; CongressmanBobby Rush (D-1); and CookCounty Board President ToddStroger were among those in attendancefor the three-hour service atApostolic Church of God forHudsons mother Darnell Donerson,57; brother Jason Hudson, 29; andseven-year-old nephew Julian King.Hudsons relatives were killed latelast month in a triple homicide.Donerson and Jason Hudson werefound dead at their Englewoodhome on 70th and Yale while Kingwas kidnapped and shot to deathbefore his body was found in aWhite 1994 Chevy Suburban vehicleon 13th and Kolin. Julian is theson of Jennifer Hudsons older sisterJulia.

William Balfour, husband ofJennifer Hudsons sister, Julia, isconsidered a person of interest inthe case and has been questioned butnot charged with the triple homicide.He has convictions forattempted murder, vehicular hijacking,and possession of a stolen vehicle,according to the IllinoisCorrections Department. He is currentlyin custody on a parole violation.

During the service, AmericanIdol winner Fantasia Barrino performeda gospel song Your Graceand Mercy, and at one point left thestage to take the hand of former Idolcontestant Jennifer Hudson and sangto her.

Small blue tickets that readHudson Family Funeral wereneeded to enter Apostolic Church ofGod, where hundreds of peoplegathered. However, it did not stopcrowds of people who stood outsidewhere police blocked off the streetsat 63rd and Dorchester.

I came out just to stand here andpray that the family will be at peaceafter the burial and I hope that itbrings a lot of families together andbring some closure, says ShantelSuggs, an Apostolic member.

After the funeral service, a processionalled by a horse-drawn carriagethat carried a white casket withKings body, traveled to the nearbyOak Wood Cemetery on 67th andCottage Grove where the Hudsonrelatives were buried.

Mondays services followed a publicmemorial service at the PleasantGift M.B. Church on 45th andGreenwood where hundreds alsolined up outside the church to paytheir respects. It was a shock to meat first, but tragedies happen everydayand were just here pouring outour blessings and taking it one stepat a time. Its a sad situation, butthem being our family, we just lovethem and we know that they are in agood place, says Chrystal Evans, aHudson relative.

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