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"It’s Gabriel Johnson They say the killer took his el"

DEATH NO LONGER HAS DOMINION

Memphis sat in a crowded pew of the Mother AME Zion Church between Aunt Octavia and Isaiah Up front, Gabe’s coffin gleamed under a blanket of lilies, donated by Mamie Smith herself Every seat was filled, and a crowd ofthe back wall It was close in the room, and women kept themselves cool ooden fans provided by the funeral ho his head sorrowfully "A young man, struck down in the prime of his life by an unspeakable violence It’s almost too much to bear…"

People cried and sniffled as Pastor Brown spoke about Me life ended too soon Meht he was killed He wished he could go back, talk it over He wished he could stop Gabe froether, would he still be alive? He took out Gabe’s lucky rabbit’s foot Mrs Johnson had given it to hi, "He’d want you to have it You were like a brother to hihtly in his hand

"Death no longer has dominion over Brother Johnson," Pastor Brown thundered

"Amen," a woman called

"For the Bible assures us, ‘as Christ was raised up frolory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection’ Thus sayeth the Lord"

"Hallelujah," several people shouted And then, "The word of the Lord"

"Pray now for our brother, Gabriel Rolly Johnson, that he may be sheltered in the boso peace Aants answered The choir began to sing "Wade in the water, wade in the water, wade in the water, the Lord’s gonna trouble the water…"

The sorrowful notes of the fa him down into terrible depths like stones in his pockets Aunt Octavia cried into a handkerchief, softly praying "Lord, Lord" under her tears Every now and then she’d reach a gloved hand over and squeeze Memphis’s hand to comfort him, but Memphis remained dry-eyed and nu at his shoes He thought about what Isaiah had said to Gabe down at Mr Reggie’s: You’ll die Had Isaiah really seen so to Gabe? What if so? What if so to the police? He had to protect Isaiah, no matter what