I knew him as a compassionate light hearted and loving child. I still hold dear the times I use to take him to school, and he would share with me the things that he had learned in school. In particular, there were little songs he had learned and he would attempt to teach them to me.There was one I remember well. It was, "Heaven is a wonderful place".
I enjoyed having him around the church services, and around the house. For me, he was a joy and a light. He loved music, and like his mother, he picked up playing the piano without formal training. He had a developing taste for classical music, and he also wrote and proformed rap songs, and he sang in the church choir also.
I miss him, and loving giving person, and I miss what he would have become; therefore I hope and pray that The Phoenix Foundation will help to promote in the lives of others that which he would have become.
JoJo was a special light in my life. He was my son and my friend. It was in the times when things were a little rough for me, and he needed or wanted certain things, he in his own way, at his age, understood that I did what I could and worked on that which I could not do, until something was able to be done.
Everyone that meet him saw in him, the warmth and love that I saw. Although he had his trials of a young child growing up and the difficulties of the pre-teen and the teenage years, there was something truly special about him. I can say that without fear of bias.
Joseph Jr. "JoJo", was (16) sixteen years old when he died. He was a student at Southfield Lathrop High School, in Southfield, Mi.
It is presently September 29th,2001.It has been almost (8) eight years ago since Joseph Jr.'s death, and the authorities still have not found out what happen. It is still unfinished business for me. In spite of that, I desire to remember JoJo by building something that will help other special people develop their talents and abilities, those who have an active care and concern for people that the majority of society turn their backs on, the reasons may be many and varied.
There is a story that I heard about where in school one young girl had some physical handicap, when other students shunned her, JoJo befriended her. This was the nature of JoJo.
Joseph Jr. was a bright developing light that was extinguished to soon; he was a strong voice silenced without being fully heard. However, his light still burns bright, and his voice is still heard strong in my heart, and in my mind, and in my life, and also in the lives of those that knew him and loved him.
I hope that The Phoenix Foundation will be able to reach out and help those people, young and old who have a desire to help themselves and help others in need; those who never give up trying to help themselves.
