A final journey full of love

ROANOKE, Virginia. – An Isaac-style homecoming party.

On Friday, 15-year-old Isaac Cunningham was buried. And just as his mother Kierston Cole had requested, everyone wore white.

“Exactly how I wanted it, yes, it was. It was beautiful,” Cole said.

Then Isaac had one last journey to make. A final walk to school and back home, which his friends and family took together.

For Ohanna Thomason, it was a path she had walked hundreds of times, and she walked home by Isaac’s side almost every day.

“He would always run after me and say, ‘Ohanna, I’m going to walk you home because it’s too dangerous for you!'” she said.

Isaac did not tell anyone about these trips to ensure that Ohanna returned home safely.

“He took a sip of water from my water hose and then ran home as fast as he could because he didn’t want to get into trouble,” she said.

The time we spent together means even more to us now.

“It meant everything to me. No one has ever done anything like that for me or shown me as much kindness as he did. It’s just crazy, and now that he’s not here anymore, it’s a crazy feeling too,” Ohanna said.

She took this final walk surrounded by dozens of other family members, friends and community members.

Like La’cian Divers, Kierston’s best friend, who lost her own son to gun violence last year.

“I’m proud of her. She drew strength from herself and made it nice for him today,” she said.

Love, everywhere you look.

“It’s love, honey, because it’s hot out here,” La’Cian said.

We walked from Isaac’s house and ended up in front of the apartments where he was shot.

Kierston reminds everyone to leave their sadness there.

Everyone took the time to reflect on Isaac’s life and came to the same conclusion: he would have enjoyed it.

“He was a human being. He always wanted to be around people. To have all his people together and just be one, I think that’s a great thing. It’s beautiful,” Ohanna said.

The suspect in Isaac’s murder has not been named because he is a minor, but he is charged with premeditated murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a serious crime.

A hearing will be held on August 6 to determine whether or not he will be tried as an adult. He remains in custody.