JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local pastor is preparing to bury another young man. It's something he said is happening to often in Jacksonville.
"About five or four, that's too many -- one is too many," said Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr.
McKissick is too familiar with holding funerals for young black men at his church. He's held about a handful of them in the past year.
"I'm tired of it as a pastor, tired of it as a black man to have keep burying young black men before their time," said McKissick.
This week, McKissick will preach at the funeral of the son of a former Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officer. Kim Desmond "Desi" Varner Jr., 25, was shot and killed in a possible drive-by last week.
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"Great young man and it saddens me and hurts my heart to have to keep going through this week in and week out," McKissick.
Action News Jax has covered several of the funerals McKissick has presided at. Demantrae Franklin, 15, was killed last November in Eureka Gardens and his funeral was at Bethel Baptist Church. Last December, McKissick preached at the funeral of 16-year-old Devron Crowden, who was shot and killed at his school bus stop.
"I'm burdened to have to continue to stand over the bodies of young people," said McKissick.
McKissick said the burden on his shoulders could be lifted if the community, city leaders and church members connected to stop the violence. He's praying they can put together an action plan.
"We've got to go out into the community and provide opportunities and options for these young people and to show them that somebody does care for them," said McKissick.
Varner's funeral will be held at the church Thursday at 10.
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