Young Chicago brothers remembered

May 4, 2007 (WLS) -- A funeral was held Friday for two young brothers murdered in their home on Chicago's South Side last Thursday.

Marquise Jackson, 12, and his 14-year-old brother Quinton were stabbed to death. A suspect has been charged

A spokesperson for the family says more than 200 people attended the funeral for the two boys, who were remembered as well-liked athletes and good students and as boys who made a positive impact on their teachers and classmates.

There were hugs and words of comfort as the crowd filed out of Holt Funeral Home in Harvey. Mourners said goodbye to the two brothers and listened to a message that tried to make sense of their deaths

"All of us will have storm in our lives; no matter what your storm is, Christ is still in control," said Rev. Roosevelt Watkins, a Jackson family spokesperson.

Many who attended the funeral were the boys' classmates and teachers from Avalon Park elementary school. Among the mourners was Earnestine Jefferson-Martin, who taught Quinton English and Social Studies. She says the 8th grader was a good student who got along well with other kids.

"When you look at all the other children who are left behind and see grief on their faces, it's hard to go in every day, because you just want to grab and hug all of them," Jefferson-Martin said.

Quinton and Marquise were both stabbed to death last week in their South Side home. Police say 36-year old Brian Gilbert confessed to attacking the boys with a steak knife and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old relative. Gilbert is currently being held in jail with no bond.

Investigators say Gilbert, who had dated the boys' mother, committed the crimes shortly before she returned home from her overnight shift at O'Hare as a security guard.

"She wants the community to know that she is a loving and caring mother and this incident took the entire family by storm," said Rev. Jackson.

The boys' school is also trying to weather the storm.

"It's going to be one day at a time. Everyone is very sensitive to what's going on," said Ryan Karey of Avalon Park elementary school.

Another memorial for Quinton and Marquise will take place at the school Tuesday morning. Their mother will also be there, and she is expected to speak publicly for the first time to thank the community for its support.

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