Funeral becomes a celebration of sisters
Hundreds remember hit-and-run victims
Funerals are not supposed to be held for little girls.
Certainly not for two of them, not for sisters.
Childhood should be a time for dress-up, for balloons, for birthday parties.
And so it was Monday at a “birthday celebration” for sisters A’Lisa “Lisa” Gee, 6, and Amea Gee, 4, robbed of all future birthdays by a reckless driver who ran a red light and struck the girls as they crossed a north side Milwaukee street holding hands.
“Did you hear what I said? This is a birthday celebration,” Pastor Carol Polk told hundreds of people packed into Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church during a funeral service for the girls.
“These young ladies are now born into eternal life.”
The gathering might have looked like a birthday celebration to the girls’ young peers, who stood wide-eyed beneath two rows of vibrant unicorn and Princess Elsa balloons before the service, as the theme song from “Frozen” filled the air before the service began.
Might have — if not for the two tiny coffins beneath a gateway of gold, blue and pink balloons, and the adults sobbing to the lyrics of “Let it Go.”
“Some people may not want to hear this,” Polk said later, during her sermon.
“But they are in a better place.”
‘Easy-going and fun-hearted’
The two girls and their cousin, Drevyze Rayford, 10, had just left a nearby playground about 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and were in a crosswalk at North 22nd and West Center streets when a driver swerved around vehicles stopped at a red light and struck them.
A’Lisa died at the scene, Amea died several days later and Drevyze was seriously injured.
Daetwan C. Robinson, 19, was eventually arrested and is charged with multiple counts of hit-and-run and homicide in connection with the girls’ death. A criminal complaint said he was speeding at the time, and attempted to disguise the car by spray painting it.
A proclamation from Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith P. Posley and read by Polk listed the reasons to celebrate the girls’ lives and the joy they spread during their combined 10 years.
A’Lisa, a first grade student at Auer Avenue School, loved school.
She enjoyed reading and was described by her teachers as funny and smart.
She had a booming voice and was a friendly child to everyone she met.
Amea, a K4 student at the school, loved playing with her siblings and watching her favorite movie, Disney’s
“Frozen.”
The girls loved playing with their dollhouse and their friends and will be remembered for their spunky and vibrant personalities and their radiant smiles.
“The sisters will be remembered as easy-going and fun-hearted young girls who loved to laugh and be among family,” Posley’s proclamation said.
They, “will be greatly missed by the Auer Avenue family and all who knew them …” and “by the community, her family, friends, teachers, and classmates.”
The strength to endure
A unicorn stood guard over A’Lisa’s casket, while Princess Elsa watched over Amea’s as Polk read from Luke 18:16.
“Jesus called them unto him and said, ‘Suffer the little children … for of such is the kingdom of God.’
“We thank you for A’Lisa, we thank you for Amea … for the people that remain … give them the strength Lord to endure.”
The celebration concluded with those present singing “The Birthday Song” by Stevie Wonder, with the names of A’Lisa and Amea inserted into the lyrics.
In closing, Polk urged attendees to teach not just their children but all children to be responsible and to do the right thing.
“We need to be happy,” Polk said. “For the family.”