Hopewell father honors 19-year-old son with nonprofit, celebration of life after deadly shooting

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- A Hopewell family is trying to turn tragedy into triumph after their 19-year-old son, Aaron "AJ" Williams, Jr., was shot and killed in Norfolk in mid-June.

Nearly three weeks after his death on June 19, his family has raised enough money to fulfill AJ’s longtime wish: to have a joyful celebration of life instead of a somber funeral.

"I did this for you, son -- I got you, son," his father, Aaron Williams, said during the service on Monday, July 7. "I threw this party. And every year there will be a party in your honor. Thank you for showing the world what it looks like to be a good person."

AJ, one of twelve siblings, grew up in Hopewell before he moved to Norfolk. Williams said he was rooted deeply in faith and family, always envisioning his funeral as a celebration.

“He wanted his funeral to be lit,” Williams said. “He wanted a celebration, not a sob fest or ... a cry factory -- but a place where people are going to celebrate what he did, who he was.”

To reflect AJ’s generous spirit, his father prepared and gave away free meals at the event. Williams said AJ aspired to be a restaurant owner.

“He was learning in the restaurant business,” Williams said. “Even though it’s my dream... I really feel like he was going to take my dream.”

Williams said he was told by police that AJ had gotten into an altercation with another man before he was shot and killed around 2 a.m. on June 19.

“The pain stays,” he said. “But you can ease people’s suffering by helping them with things that they haven’t planned for -- like burying your child.”

In the wake of the tragedy, Williams has started a nonprofit organization called "AJ Forever" to support other families who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

Williams said he is still working on the website for AJ Forever, but 8News will add the link here once it's ready.