Remembering MJ

Thank you to Schrell Palmer, mother of Little Brother MJ Johnson, for sharing her letter to the BBBS Community below in remembrance of her son, who was tragically killed on July 28, 2024. Our hearts are with Schrell and the rest of MJ’s family and friends.

September 30, 2024

Peace and Love,

Mendrell Johnson Jr, better known as MJ, was born on 12/9/2008 and taken from us by gun violence on 7/28/2024. MJ was an amazing, talented young man who had touched so many lives both young and old (I didn’t realize how MJ affected so many people until he passed). MJ had a love for basketball and enjoyed playing soccer. MJ loved to skate and was a great chess player. MJ was a jokester and kept the people around him smiling and laughing all the time. MJ didn’t have the luxury of having any positive male role models in his life, so in March of 2020 I was excited when MJ was matched with his big brother Josh. MJ and Josh were a great match, Josh helped my son to experience so many opportunities with the bonus of having a male role model and for that MJ was grateful and I will always be grateful to both Josh and BBBS.

MJ, like most young men, was going through his teen years trying to figure out what he wanted to do and trying to figure out exactly who he was. On 7/28/24 someone took advantage of the kind, vulnerable heart that was oblivious to what this cold world had to offer. MJ’s passing has left both myself and my daughter truly heartbroken.

It is important to have programs such as BBBS to help assist our youth. I am so grateful for your organization because Josh played a great role and gave MJ something to look forward to as far as an adult male figure that he could relate to. I always ask where is “The Village” to help our youth, however I can honestly say that BBBS is apart of “The Village” that helped to assist MJ and I on his life journey.

MJ’s name will not go unheard as I am currently on a journey of starting my own non-profit. I have been giving back and will continue to do so by helping other grieving parents through their healing and by helping both troubled youth and parents find resources to assist them when in need. In the very near future, I will be holding monthly meetings to brainstorm ways to assist our troubled youth and discussing anything else that our communities are currently in need of.

Sincerely,

Schrell Palmer
MJ’s Mom

#LLMJ #FOREVER15