Nearly 700 mourners filled the Monroe Civic Center today for a somber funeral service honoring three victims of a tragic triple homicide that stunned the community recently.
The memorial, held in the W.L. Howard Theater donated by Mayor Friday Ellis for the occasion, brought together grieving family members, friends, clergy, and public officials who stood in solidarity against senseless violence.
Rev. Rodney McFarland, chairman of the Monroe City Council and pastor of Greater Free Gift Baptist Church, delivered words of comfort and challenge.
He urged mourners not to give up in the face of tragedy but to embrace each other and confront the terrible climate of violence that is taking the innocent away from us.
His remarks addressed all three victims, who were laid to rest in two caskets at the front of the stage. The casket of the father and daughter Jaborris Simpson and Jhersi Simpson was completely wrapped with their photos. They were buried in the same casket.
The victims — 27-year-old Jamal Bosley, 25-year-old Jaborris Simpson, and 2-year-old Jhersi Simpson — were killed in the early morning hours of October 28 at a residence in the 2000 block of Grammont Street, near the city’s public works department. Police say the crime occurred around 2:30 a.m. Responding officers discovered all three bodies inside the home.
Two suspects have since been arrested, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Multiple clergy members and several Monroe City Council members attended the service, standing with the families during the emotional farewell.
The funeral was coordinated by two local funeral homes: McFarland Funeral Home handled arrangements for the Simpsons, while Smith Funeral Home directed services for the Bosley family.
The emotional weight of the moment was felt throughout the arena as worship songs, prayers, and moments of reflection offered a brief refuge from grief.
Community members, some wiping away tears, embraced one another as they reflected on the tragedy that claimed not just two young men, but a child whose life had barely begun.
This is not the city that I grew up in! What happened to respect, compassion, dignity, pride and family values? What role are the numerous churches playing? Where are the parents? The community is reaping what it sows. The children need parents not friends! It starts with the parents and the community! Please hold the children accountable for their actions!