Little six year old Jacob Hall was fatally shot by a fourteen year old boy on the playground of Townville Elementary School in Greenville, South Carolina. Tragically, after a bullet ripped through his thigh and he lost 3/4 of his blood and after three days on life support, Jacob Hall passed on. His mother, Renae Hall, and the entire community are devastated.
This is yet another horrific incident in this heartbreaking, and absolutely tragic wave of violence sweeping our country. It is devastating to the communities and the families where each incident happens. The violence needs to stop. But sometimes, just sometimes, the love and support outshines the appalling and horrendous nature of the incident itself. The rallying cry and the gathering that happens after these incidents is often times amazing to watch happen and touching to see occur.
Sometimes, magic happens.
What happened for the Hall family was no exception to this, what happened yesterday for the Hall family was inspiring as the space filled up with Batmans and Spider-mans and Incredible Hulks and Harley Quinns and Ninja Turtles and Wonder Woman and Supermen. It was this call, to those who came dressed and those who just came that made everyone a hero for Jacob and a hero to the Hall family.
To celebrate Jacob’s life, Ranae Hall announced that she wanted to honor her son with a superhero funeral. She bravely faced reporters outside of the hospital in Greenville, SC – Greenville Memorial Hospital – this past weekend to make the announcement; “I don’t want suits and ties and all that,” Hall said; “There will be a lot of children there and I don’t want it to be scary for them. Jacob will be dressed in his superhero costume.” She said in the same press statement; that Jacob “wanted to save everybody, just like the superheroes he loved. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were his favorite heroes.”
Folks from all over the community and surrounding towns and even those outside of South Carolina are rallying and coming together to show support to this family and to Jacob’s legacy and memory. The Easley, South Carolina Police Department all wore superhero t-shirt under their uniforms. On The Easley PD Facebook page they wrote along with the photo below; “Showing our support for Jacob Hall and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. #townvillestrong,”
A Batmobile traveled from West Virginia as part of the “Heroes for Higher” group to show support, driven by founder John Buckland. Buckland wrote on the group’s Facebook page: “At the request of the friends and family of young Hero Jacob, The HopeMobile will roll to the funeral to honor, support and encourage the family. We are honored to be asked and able to help.””
As the gathering of superheroes grew and hundreds and hundreds of people showed up for the visitation that took place on Tuesday 10/04/2016. The turnout was both inspiring and heart breaking as the reason for the gathering was always in the forefront of peoples’ minds.
An online fundraiser has been set up to help the family. The fundraiser can be found AT THIS LINK. The funeral will take place at 11am in the Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, SC.
*Photo Credit: Fox Carolina, Facebook
