Ahmir Jolliff laid to rest: Perry sixth-grader for contagious smile

Perry community comes together to pay respects to Ahmir Jolliff, killed in school shooting

EIGHT NEWS, IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THE FAMILY OF THE 11 YEAR OLD KILLED AT PERRY HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK LAID THEIR SON TO REST TODAY. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR THE FUNERAL OF AMIR JOLLIFF THIS MORNING AT SAINT PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH. ��vlog’S BEAU BOWMAN WAS ALLOWED INSIDE DURING THEIR FINAL GOODBYES. BO. WELL, STACEY, ONE WEEK AGO, NO ONE IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD BE MOURNING THE LOSS OF A SIXTH GRADER IN A TRAGEDY. IN A TRAGEDY THAT HAS RIPPED THE COMMUNITY APART. BUT NOW HIS LOVED ONES HOPE PEOPLE CAN LEARN A LITTLE BIT FROM AMIR AND THE WAY HE LIVED AND COME TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THIS. WHEN I WAS HIT WITH HUNDREDS OF TEARFUL FACES, STOOD THURSDAY MORNING AT SAINT PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH AS THE CASKET CARRYING AMIR JOLLIFF CAME DOWN THE AISLE. AMIR HAD A SPIRIT THAT WAS BIGGER THAN HIS 11 YEAR OLD BODY COULD SOMETIMES CONTAIN. PASTOR ANDREA BROWNLEE DELIVERED THE EULOGY THAT TOLD US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW AMIR LIVED HIS LIFE. HE WAS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS AS HIS MOM WAS NOT ALWAYS SURE WHAT THAT BUSINESS WAS WAS, BUT HE WAS TAKING CARE OF IT. AMIR WAS INVOLVED IN CHOIR AND BAND AND LOVED TO PLAY SOCCER AND VIDEO GAMES. BROWNLEE DESCRIBED HIS SOUL AS VIBRANT AND HIS SMILE AS CONTAGIOUS. ALWAYS SHOWING KINDNESS TO THOSE AROUND HIM. HE SPOKE UP FOR OTHERS. HE KNEW THAT LIFE WAS PRECIOUS, AND THEY TELL ME THAT HE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO WASTE ON ANGER OR GRUDGES. I WANT THOSE WHO KENDALL PALS BOTNA DOWN AND LOVE AMIR LIVED HIS LIFE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND EVEN IN DEATH, BROWNLEE SAYS HIS MISSION ENDURES. CARRYING ON HIS SPIRIT AND KINDNESS. SO THAT HIS MEMORY WILL STAY FOREVER HONORED. SO WHEN, WHETHER YOU KNEW AMIR OR HIS NAME BEFORE LAST THURSDAY OR NOT, YOU KNOW HIM NOW, YOU ARE PART OF THE EVER GROWING CIRCLE OF PEOPLE THAT HE WAS HEMMING TOGETHER. CLYDE. WANT TO COME BY, SEE HIM. MANY TEARS SHARED AS THE FUNERAL PROCESSION LEFT THE CHURCH. THERE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LINING THE STREET TO SAY GOODBYE TO AMIR, WHOSE IMPACT WAS FELT BY EVERYONE TODAY. STACEY BO, THANK YOU SO SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE HURT IN THAT PERRY SHOOTING, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, DAN MARBURGER. A GO FUND ME ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP FOR HIM AS

Perry community comes together to pay respects to Ahmir Jolliff, killed in school shooting

The family of 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, who was killed in the shooting last week at Perry High School, laid him to rest Thursday morning.Hundreds from the Perry community and beyond showed up for Jolliff's funeral at St. Patrick's Catholic Church."Ahmir had a spirit that was bigger than his 11-year-old body could sometimes contain," Pastor Andrea Brownlee said as she delivered the eulogy that told us a little bit about how Ahmir lived his life."He was always on the move, taking care of business. His mom was not always sure what that business was, but he was taking care of it," Brownlee said.Ahmir was involved in choir and band, and loved to play soccer and video games. Brownlee described his soul as vibrant and his smile as contagious — always showing kindness to those around him."He spoke up for others. He knew that life was precious. And they tell me he didn't have time to waste on anger or grudges," the pastor from First Christian Church said.Brownlee says Ahmir lived his life bringing people together. And even in death, she says his mission endures and carrying on his spirit and kindness so that his memory will stay forever honored."So whether you knew Ahmir or his name before last Thursday, or not, you know him now. You are part of the ever-growing circle of people he was hemming together," Brownlee said. More coverage of Perry, Iowa school shooting:Ahmir Jolliff: Sixth-grader killed in Perry school shooting remembered as a joyful boy'Ahmir was a star:' Father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joyVisitation, funeral information for slain Perry sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Family of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler releases public statementPhotos of Ahmir Jolliff, 11-year-old boy killed in Perry, Iowa school shooting'That's what scouts do:' Perry Boy Scout troop organizes teddy bear drive for elementary studentsQuestions linger about Perry school shooter's motive, where he got firearmsNebraska senator after Iowa school shooting: Give schools option of arming employeesAuthorities identify 17-year-old shooter who killed 1, wounded 7 in Perry school shootingFamilies recount terrifying moments from inside Perry High School during deadly shootingPolice on massive response to Perry High School: 'No community is immune'Iowa leaders, elected officials react to Perry High School shootingDispatch recordings provide timeline of Perry High School shooting in Iowa'May this vigil be a beacon of light': Hundreds gather at Perry park to pray and mourn as a communityFamilies of Sandy Hook victims release statement on Perry High School shooting'Ahmir was a star:' Biological father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joyPerry Boy Scouts have collected thousands of teddy bears for local studentsPerry 'somber' days after deadly school shooting'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Parents of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler release public statement

PERRY, Iowa —

The family of 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, who was killed in the shooting last week at Perry High School, laid him to rest Thursday morning.

Hundreds from the Perry community and beyond showed up for Jolliff's funeral at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

"Ahmir had a spirit that was bigger than his 11-year-old body could sometimes contain," Pastor Andrea Brownlee said as she delivered the eulogy that told us a little bit about how Ahmir lived his life.

"He was always on the move, taking care of business. His mom was not always sure what that business was, but he was taking care of it," Brownlee said.

Ahmir was involved in choir and band, and loved to play soccer and video games.

Brownlee described his soul as vibrant and his smile as contagious — always showing kindness to those around him.

"He spoke up for others. He knew that life was precious. And they tell me he didn't have time to waste on anger or grudges," the pastor from First Christian Church said.

Brownlee says Ahmir lived his life bringing people together. And even in death, she says his mission endures and carrying on his spirit and kindness so that his memory will stay forever honored.

"So whether you knew Ahmir or his name before last Thursday, or not, you know him now. You are part of the ever-growing circle of people he was hemming together," Brownlee said.

More coverage of Perry, Iowa school shooting:

'Ahmir was a star:' Biological father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joy

Perry Boy Scouts have collected thousands of teddy bears for local students

Perry 'somber' days after deadly school shooting

'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Parents of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler release public statement

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Perry community comes together to pay respects to Ahmir Jolliff, killed in school shooting

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