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The life of North Central Florida teenager Jearicka Mack, also known to friends and family as Pooh, was honored Saturday at a Church on Newberry Road in Gainesville, Florida. Jearicka, 15, was shot and killed outside a party in early May. The police have arrested a 17-year-old with gang ties in the case.
Jearicka grew up in Gainesville, Florida. She was most recently living with a sister in Trenton and attending Trenton High School. The funeral was held at Westside Baptist Church and was chosen because it could accommodate a large crowd, which was estimated at 700. Jearicka was driven to the front of the church in a horse-drawn carriage. A funeral official in a top hat and tails carried her casket to the front of the church while the choir sang “I Shall Wear a Crown.” The life of the teenager was remembered with fond memories, and pleas for young people to turn away from violence.
Teen violence is real, and is a large part of a North Florida teenager’s life in the society we live in today. Many people think of school shootings when they think of teen violence but it can also include many other things. This includes fights, gang violence, suicide, and dating someone who is violent. The most critical risk factor for violence is the behavior of a teenager’s friends and classmates. The best way to help prevent teen violence is to know who your child hangs out with and encourage healthy behavior and relationships. For more information on this topic, see 700 gather in tribute to Jearicka.