The shooting victim in Atlanta, Secoriea Turner, was full of joy, fighting spirit

07/07/2020 Business, Sports


Secoriea Turner always had a kiss and a hug for her mother.

These signs of affection would continue throughout the day. However, her mother never tired of being on the receiving end.

“That was my baby,” said Charmaine Turner. “This was my only daughter. She was very loving. Her skin simply glowed. She was always happy and full of joy. “

The 8-year-old Kipp Ways elementary school student was among the five people killed during the July 4 weekend in Atlanta.

She was also the youngest.

On Monday, Turner and his family were left with memories and the heartbreaking task of planning a funeral.

“She liked to dance every day,” said her mother, who cried describing Secoriea as her “best friend.”

She talked about being a nurse when she grew up.

"With this COVID ongoing, she wanted to be able to help people," said Turner, who lives in Atlanta.

Secoriea had two brothers, 12 and 10 years old.

He had three royal blue and pink fish pets, a gift, which he never even named, although he did feed and speak to them.

He had a nickname, SeSe, but his mother preferred his real name, which came from his father's name, Secoriey Williamson.

Secoriea was also a cheerleader and comedian who said what she could think of, said Williamson, 28, of Atlanta. He said he spoiled her, giving her money to buy what she wanted.

One of her biggest obsessions was slime, the sweet, gooey kid's candy that Secoriea once spent $ 100 on, her father said. They enjoyed traveling together, including trips to one of their favorite places, the Nickelodeon theme hotel in Orlando. Secoriea loved Louisiana cuisine, which includes crabs and king crab, Williamson said.

>> READ | Reaction to the shooting death of Secoriea Turner, 8 years old.

Having grown up in a large family without his father, Williamson did not know much about being a father, he said. But he set out to be the best father he could be.

"I will miss his smile. I miss her saying 'mmhmm'. I wish I could hear her say that one more time. I will miss calling her to come to the house, ”said Williamson.

Audrianna Archibald Lawrence, its principal at KIPP Ways Elementary School in Atlanta, said she was a "bright light," a studious, sweet girl who remained connected to her classmates after the school closed on COVID-19.

Last year was Secoriea's first year there. She had attended Dunbar Elementary School in Atlanta in first grade when she became friends with her teacher, Joya Florence.

Florence, 41, described her as a brave, brave, and big-hearted girl who did not accept bullying from other children. She had a glittery unicorn backpack, she loved unicorns, but she was unusually precocious and called Florence by a nickname, FloJo, which only adults at school used. Florence told her children that they could not use that name, but Secoriea persisted and Florence stopped correcting it.

She became a kind of auxiliary teacher, ready with a stapler when Florence needed her, and ready to hand out orders to her classmates, who were listening.

"If it was a little loud, she would say 'Mrs. Florence, do you want me to tell them to shut up?

They kept in touch after Secoriea moved to KIPP.

Florence's birthday was Saturday, and Secoriea told her Thursday, during their last conversation, that she would call to mark the day. She didn't, and Florence heard from a colleague Sunday morning about her death.

"She was a very strong and powerful girl," said Florence. "I have no doubt in my mind that this kid was going to do something amazing and great."

On Saturday night, Secoriea, her mother, and another adult were in the car.

>> RELATED | Atlanta protesters Wendy denounce the murder of Secoriea Turner

Secoriea was supposed to go to her father's house before the fatal incident near Wendy's, but decided she wanted to play with her cousins, Williamson said. The girls loved spending time together, she said. Even at such a young age, Secoriea had a great presence.

"The children love her. All the children who knew her and even her parents had an impact on them, ”said Williamson. “She hit you fast. You want your son to be close to her.

They had already vacationed at Turner's mother's house and were headed home.

"But we had no chance," said Turner.

The girl was riding in the car, which had left University Avenue shortly before 10 pm, the sergeant of the Atlanta police spokesman. John Chafee said.

The driver tried to turn into a parking lot across the street from Wendy's parking lot, where Rayshard Brooks was killed by police last month. The people there were armed and opened fire, hitting Secoriea in the back seat.

"You shot and killed a baby," said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. "And there was not just one shooter, there were at least two shooters."

Turner heard her daughter scream and call her.

He reached for it and held it, dialing 911. He said no one answered immediately.

"I just felt like I was trying to hold on, but couldn't," she said through tears.

"Nobody helped me. I prayed to God and He didn't help me. My baby died in my arms. "

Hosea Helps will hold a family prayer vigil at noon Wednesday in front of Atlanta City Hall.

Her father said he wants justice for Secoriea.

"She didn't deserve to die like this. She was only 8 years old, ”he said. "My son's life is what matters."