Balloons were sent skyward at Friday night's vigil at Ada Jenkins Center. (Bill Giduz/DavidsonNews.net)

An overflow crowd gathered at Gethsemane Baptist Church Saturday afternoon for the funeral of Jamal Brandon, 18, who died last weekend. Meanwhile, about 200 people – including family, friends, local clergy – attended a balloon release and vigil Friday night at Ada Jenkins Center to honor Mr. Brandon’s memory.

Mr. Brandon died suddenly last weekend at his home on Crane Street, where he lived with parents Robert and Cathy Brandon.

The Brandons were at Friday night’s vigil, which was on the front lawn of Ada Jenkins Center, across Gamble Street from their home. Several people offered remarks, including the Rev. Ernest Jeffries, senior pastor at Gethsemane Baptist Church.

The vigil included the release of dozens of blue balloons.

The Rev. Jeffries led Saturday’s funeral at Gethsemane. Hundreds of people attended – so many that the sanctuary overflowed into other spaces at the church.

Mr. Brandon was well-known throughout the area. He was a popular athlete at North Mecklenburg High School and served as a youth usher at Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church, in Cornelius.

Torrence Chapel church held a grief counseling session Thursday night for friends and family. A similar session is planned Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. at Ada Jenkins Center. Center officials said the session is for anyone in the community.

Friends and neighbors are organizing a donation drive to help Mr. Brandon’s family. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Robert and Cathy Brandon, PO Box 621, Davidson, NC 28036.

– David Boraks and Bill Giduz

RELATED COVERAGE

Aug. 6, 2010, “Community mourns Jamal Brandon, 18″