By Amanda Cooper
More than one hundred people gathered together in front of Ebenezer Baptist Church for the homegoing services for Rayshard Brooks. The funeral service was private and strict security was enforced.
Outside, the tone was sober. Everyone was focus on the service, which could be viewed on the jumbo screen placed in front of the church. Some worshiped, others expressed their grief in tears, and many watched in silence.
Most people in the crowd did not know Rayshard, but they all said they came out to pay their respects because of the injustice surrounding his death. Homer "JR" Cornish says he flew in from Houston, Texas, to attend the services because it was necessary to honor his life.
Those who did attend the private service were close family and friends of Rayshard Brooks. It was mentioned that Tyler Perry, who paid for the service, also attended, as well as, City of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Rapper TI and his wife Tiny, Former Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed, and Former Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams were also seen entering the church.
During the service, Ambrea Mikolajczyk, a former employer, and friend of Rayshard Brooks shared her last memories with him, before he left Toledo to move back to Atlanta.
I had an opportunity to speak with Ambrea, and she shared that "joyful" was one word to describe Rayshard Brooks best.
Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, gave the eulogy. Before the services concluded, he mentioned that Tomika Miller, wife of Rayshard Brooks, wanted a song of praise for the recessional instead of sadness. As Mikolajcyk stated, he was a joyful person.