BRPD officer Montrell Jackson’s services were held today at the Living Faith Christian Center.
Without trying to coordinate their messages, nearly all the speakers referred to words from one of Montrell Jackson’s last social media posts: “Don’t let hate infect your heart.”
BRPD Chief Carl Dabadie referred to those words as the “Facebook post that will forever challenge us.”
Governor John Bel Edwards quoted from the Bible’s New Testament while interpreting Jackson’s words, saying, “There’s no doubt Montrell was a peacemaker, and as we know from Matthew 5:9, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.'”
East Baton Rouge City-Parish Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden praised Jackson’s giving spirit, saying, “Montrell knew how to be the greatest, because God emphasized to you that the greatest among you shall be your servants,” referring to Jackson as “a true public servant that we honor today.”
Jackson’s brother, Kedrick Pitts, gave an emotional description of how he always looked up to Montrell. “Everything you’ve done, I’ve bragged about.” Pitts’ voice wavered as he said, “All I wanted to do was be like you, and do what you did. Now I can brag about you being an angel.” The audience laughed and applauded, in the midst of the ceremonies filled with tears– both of the joy of life, and the pain of loss.
A funeral procession took Jackson to his final resting place at Greenoaks Cemetery.