Vigil for teen brings hundreds together to pray, decry violence
In 1999, Beverly Ivy lost her nephew and cousin during a triple homicide at the Burnham Wing Schoolhouse Apartments on Elgin's east side.
Ten years later, police say, 17-year-old John W. Keyes III, 17, was killed outside the building when a Streamwood mother rammed her car into the teenager and crushed his body into the structure.
Over the past few days, Ivy, whose children went to the same middle school as Keyes' four sisters, reconnected with the family and is doing her part to get them through the tragedy.
Her advice?
"To lean on each other, but the main thing is to make their lives a positive one," Ivy said Friday. "It's going to be hard for them to move on if they harbor bitterness and if the focus is always on the death and not the life."
Ivy made her comments after a vigil and prayer service held at the site of Keyes' death. It attracted more than 100 people from all over the city.
During the service, participants prayed for the Keyes family - his sisters were in attendance - the city of Elgin and those living inside the apartment complex.
As well, State Rep. Keith Farnham and former State Rep. Ruth Munson were in attendance.
So were Fran Cella and Kerry Kelly, each from a pair of Elgin neighborhoods - the Elgin Historic District and the North East Neighborhood respectively - that have seen their share of bloodshed in recent years.
"We all come together collectively as a city to say, 'No more hate, no more crime, no more drugs,'" said Leonard Williams, an elder with Spates Temple Church of God in Christ, who organized the vigil. "We don't want this situation to happen 10 years from now. We want a saved city."
Timera D. Branch, 33, a mother of three, has been charged with two counts of murder in Keyes' death.
She remained behind bars Friday on a $1 million bond and is due in court Thursday.
Family members say a Saturday night fight between Keyes and Branch's 16-year-old son over Keyes dancing with the younger boy's girlfriend, ultimately led to Keyes' death. Police were releasing no new information about the case Friday - a murder that has shocked and saddened many residents.
"I just felt it was so wrong, like how could somebody do that," said E. Jay Johnson, 19, of Elgin, who knew Keyes casually.
Resident Teri Smith said parents need to keep tabs on their children.
She attended the service with her daughter Shatera and her grandson Jeshawn.
"It's important for us all to see problems that are going on with our youth," she said. "It's really sad that something like this happened over an altercation involving two children and that a parent got involved so violently."
During the emotional vigil, Paster Leonard Spates encouraged everyone to make God a priority in their lives and to renounce their sinning ways.
Fourteen youths were so moved by the service that they came forward and accepted God into their lives.
"The only way that we're really going to be able to enjoy life is if we change," Spates said. "If you don't, you are subject to this," he said, gesturing to the ever-growing memorial dedicated to Keyes.
Visitation is at 10 a.m., with a service at 11 a.m. Monday at St. James AME Church in Elgin, 1100 Summit St. Interment follows at Bluff City Cemetery.