Dollar General victim remembered as doting father, loyal friend and for his giving spirit

The life of a young, devoted father — gunned down along with two other Black victims two weeks ago in a racially motivated shooting at a Jacksonville Dollar General store — was celebrated Saturday by family, friends and strangers still stunned by the horrific slayings.

Tears flowing down their cheeks and voices raw with emotion threatening to choke off their words, mourners came together in a homegoing celebration for Jerrald De'Shaun Gallion at St. Paul Church of Jacksonville.

Mayor Donna Deegan and City Council member Ju'Coby Pittman were among the mourners packing the church.

Gallion, 29, was killed along with Angela Michelle Carr, a 52-year-old mother of three and grandmother of 14, and Anolt Joseph "A.J." Laguerre Jr., a 19-year-old store employee, on Aug. 26 by a 21-year-old white Clay County man who left behind manifestos declaring his hate of the Black race.

Family described Gallion as a doting father who had planned to spend that weekend with his 4-year-old daughter when he was killed. Friends recalled his devotion, loyalty and overwhelming kindness along with a smile that never dimmed.

"He was a great father. He loved her so much… He was very family-oriented," Shatara White, a friend, told the Times-Union after the service. She also described him as "a very giving person" who was always cheerful and liked to "see everybody happy and smiling."

Gallion was the last of the three victims slain. He had walked into the store unwittingly with his girlfriend — who wasn't injured — as the massacre was underway. The gunman, Ryan Christopher Palmeter, would later kill himself when a SWAT team arrived.

As horrific as his death, it shouldn't overshadow his life, White noted as did family members who eulogized him during the service.

"I'd like people to remember not the way he died, but to remember the way he lived. And he lived a wonderful life," she said.

Funeral services for Carr and Laguerre were held Friday. Nationally known civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy for Carr.

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Gallion’s 4-year-old daughter Je Asia — dressed in royal blue, which friends said was her daddy's favorite color — reached with arms outstretched to her maternal grandmother Sabrina Rozier as the family entered the church. The girl seemed bewildered as well as curious as she looked at the crowd of mourners lining up behind them to go inside.

Bishop John E. Guns, senior pastor, announced the creation of a scholarship to help pay to send Je Asia to college. Guns donated the first $100 and said $25 a month from the church will follow. He urged the congregation, community and others to follow suit.

Guns also said Gallion's legacy as a father will be honored with an initiative named for him as part of Operation Save Our Sons. Founded by Guns, the nonprofit organization focuses on mentorship, support and finding solutions to violence and other issues in the city's Black community.

'Reflections of Love'

Gallion's siblings, friends and boss shared emotional memories including a poem "Say Their Names," urging all three Dollar General victims be remembered for their lives and not just their deaths.

"Say their names, say them loud," one of his sisters said in her poem. "To the world they are victims, but to us they are family whose lives were ended by a word we call hate. But today we bury that word and replace it with love. It's time to unite together so no other families have to shout 'Say their names."

Timothy Gallion said "I just feel bad that something so evil happened to such a good person like Jerrald. … You were so soft-spoken and kind-hearted, that I just wanted to say I love you and miss you."

Another sister called for people to unite, start loving one another and "let go of all the hate so nobody should have to go through this. Because he should be here with his daughter."

One of his aunts noted the pain the family is enduring: “They took something so valuable from our family, and we are hurting and our life will never ever be the same.”

At times during the service, grief-stricken family walked outside and cried out in frustration at Gallion's death as others followed to try to comfort them.

His boss recalled that Gallion "was always full of joy and laughter."

Guns in his eulogy urged people to tell Gallion's story as a loving family man, true friend and a hard worker and a person who should not be disrespected or dismissed as a stereotypical Black man lost to gun violence.

"He was not a thug. He was not a wayward father. He was loyal. He was committed. And he could be trusted. That needs to be told," Guns said. "Tell his story so folks don't try to use him as their poster child for what's wrong with Black folk. Tell his story."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Last victim in Jacksonville Dollar General shooting is laid to rest