Jennifer Hudson's family remembered

Nov 3, 2008, 9:50 GMT

Jennifer Hudson\'s mother, brother and nephew were remembered by friends and family in a memorial service yesterday (02.11.08). © Robin Wong / PR Photos

Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were remembered by friends and family in a memorial service yesterday (02.11.08).

Friends and family paid tribute to the actress' mom Darnell Donerson, sibling Jason Hudson and seven-year-old nephew Julian King were all fatally shot last month in the emotional public ceremony at Chicago's Pleasant Gift Memorial Baptist Church.

The service was attended by members of Julian's school, including his second grade teacher Carmen Williams, who was accompanied by three of the boy's classmates.

Williams said: "Julian was a role model, an academic whiz and a best friend. You could look into his eyes and you knew he always had the right answer."

The song 'From Out of Nowhere, Jesus Found Me', performed by a member of the Hudson family, Shari Sweat, was dedicated to 57-year-old Darnell.

Reverend Quentin Washington, a relative of the family, spoke about Jason, 29, crediting him for encouraging him to pursue his career as a minister.

He said: "They are all in Heaven having a 'hallelujah good time'. Their lives were not in vain. Their legacies live on."

While 'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer did not attend the public service, she and her sister Julia are expected to remember their lost relatives at a private service in Chicago's Apostolic Church of God today (03.11.08).