Slain Burlington teen remembered for style, dance

BURLINGTON, Ia. — Hundreds of mourners packed into Burlington High School on Wednesday night for the funeral of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson, passing by his open casket to pay their final respects.

Some prayed. Others left the casket in tears. But when they saw Kedarie’s long hair extensions spread across his pillow, they smiled in acknowledgment.

He always made a point of looking fabulous.

“We all know that Kedarie loved to have his hair done, and he loved to have his braids in,” said BHS teacher Laci Johnson.

Kedarie, a BHS junior, was shot to death March 2, and the community has been trying to make sense of his death ever since. The investigation into his slaying is ongoing.

Johnson was one of several locals who shared stories of Kedarie during the funeral, remembering the times he stole her heart and the times he annoyed her to the point of momentary anger. But Kedarie never held a grudge, and it was impossible to hold one against him.

“You would never know what he would do or say. Sometimes it would be shockingly inappropriate, and sometimes, it would be something that would just melt your heart,” Johnson said with a grin.

Possessing an outlandish fashion sense consisting of everything from leg warmers to pajama pants, Kedarie didn’t always go to class when he should. He often would roam the hallways when he shouldn’t.

But if he saw someone getting picked on in those hallways, he was never afraid to stand up to the bullying. Kedarie lived his life proudly and encouraged others to do the same.

“When God made Kedarie, he knew this boy would need a little extra sass to get by in this world,” said Mona Ash, one of Kedarie’s friends. “He was one of the most resilient kids I ever met.”

No matter his mood, Kedarie would always do his best to make those around him feel as special as he was.

“He would say, ‘Hey girl, hey.’ Then he would give me a big hug,” Ash said.

That kindness extended to Kedarie’s family. Ash remembered seeing him trying to balance two bulging McDonald’s bags on the handlebars of his bicycle one morning, and she was understandably curious. Turns out Kedarie had received his first paycheck and was heading back home to surprise his family with the biggest breakfast he could buy.

“He was a bright spot of sunshine, and the world is a little darker now. I absolutely loved that kid,” Ash said.

Kedarie lived a big life with a big heart. He would dress down intolerance with the same sass he occasionally gave his teachers. His mother, Katrina Johnson, celebrated that attitude by proudly calling him “a diva” at a candlelight vigil Saturday night, and no one in attendance disagreed.

“He always put a smile on everyone’s face. Everybody knew him,” said 14-year-old BHS freshman Monett Delombeard. “We had second-period cooking class together, and he always liked to decorate the plates. He was always kind.”

BHS secretary Shaunda Campbell said Kedarie had a tendency to twerk when he shouldn’t. But trying to stop Kedarie from dancing was like trying to stop a fish from swimming.

He never stopped dancing.

“I’m going to miss him, his leggings, his heart,” Campbell said. “He had a knack for wanting to make everyone’s day better.”

One of Kedarie’s friends read a poem during the service, written from the perspective of Kedarie himself.

“I am who I am because I chose to be, not because I’m afraid of what you may think of me,” the poem read. “How am I lesser than you because my hips swing that way?”

Funeral officiant and Harmony Bible Church pastor Nathan Williams spoke of Kedarie’s compassion, much of which he saw firsthand. He spoke of the Kedarie who taught kids how to dance at the Maple Leaf Center. The Kedarie who helped unload canned goods for the Kayla’s Cupboard food pantry.

“He was the first person to put his arm around a hurting person. He was the first to stand up and help someone who was being mistreated,” Williams said.

Williams became close to Kedarie while working at the Maple Leaf Center together. He revealed last week Kedarie showed up to volunteer at the center the day he died.

“The confidence and flair Kedarie had when he walked into a room let everyone know he was there. He was one of those people. You couldn’t ignore him,” Williams said.

As the service ended with the Lauryn Hill song “Joyful, Joyful,” about half-dozen members of Kedarie’s family began dancing. After a few seconds, more joined in.

It wasn’t long before everyone in the gymnasium was clapping in time to the music. They watched as Kedarie's family embraced in a massive group hug by his casket, swaying, crying and praising Jesus for delivering such a unique soul into the world.

“I hope you dance. Continue dancing for Kedarie,” Campbell said.