JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family and friends of 22-year-old Jerry Brown are still in shock that he was shot and killed last month. They say they are holding onto precious memories of the young man who brought smiles to so many.
“Whenever he comes home, we always know it because he just busts through the door like BAM, and I would be like that’s my son, that’s Jerry,” Jessie Green said.
It’s a presence and warmth that’s now represented by a big teddy bear on the couch named after Jerry Brown.
“He was fun to be around always laughing and joking,” Green said.
Jessie Green said her son grew up going to church and he was very close to his family.
Green says Jerry’s love for singing gospel music started a young age. He was known in the community for his powerful voice and being a person anyone could lean on.
“He’s always been there by my side always, even at work. He would call me, 'mom, you doing OK?, I’m just checking on you,'” Green said.
Green says she’s fighting breast cancer and her mom lost her battle to it less than year ago. Now, her only son, Jerry, is gone.
“I couldn’t believe it at first. At first they say he got shot, but I didn’t know he got killed for awhile. it was like a big shock. it just hit me, and I’m still in shock to this day,” Green said.
The 22-year-old was gunned down in Northwest Jacksonville less than a month ago. The family said he’s another innocent victim lost to the violence in the community.
“He had a Christian home, a loving family, and we all were around him and loved him,” cousin Marian Green said.
With Jerry’s birthday in two days, it’s a painful reminder of the young, vibrant life that was taken away too soon.
“He was just wonderful, I love him and I’m going to miss him more than anything, I love him,” Marian Green said.
The family said they don’t have hate in their hearts for whoever did this, but they do want justice.
“I just want the person who did it to just turn themselves in, that’s all I want,” Jessie Green said.
Jerry Brown’s 23rd birthday would have been on Tuesday. The family and the community are coming together for a celebration of his life at Hemming Park.
A website, Justice4MyJerry.com, has also been setup for people to donate money to go toward the reward for finding the person responsible for the shooting.