NewsLocal News

Actions

'We lost an angel': Community gathers for funeral of 13-year-old Sandra Parks

Posted at 5:30 PM, Dec 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-01 18:31:52-05

Saturday morning friends and family paid their final respects to Sandra Parks, the 13 year old who was shot and killed inside her own home.

The pews were packed inside Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God In Christ as loved ones shared their favorite memories of the young teen tragically killed. 

Bernice Parks, Sandra's Mother, stepped up to the podium and poured her heart out as she talked about her young daughter. 

"We lost an angel, an angel that was on earth with us and we didn't even know it," said Parks.  

As the grieving mother spoke, there were moments with tears, laughter and outrage.  

"My baby didn't deserve this! She didn't deserve this," said Parks.

Bernice said she moved to Milwaukee from Chicago before Sandra was born,  to get away from the violence.

"I come up here to live up here in Milwaukee and they take my baby! They took my baby! Milwaukee took my baby," she said. 

Flowers were placed by a silver casket next to a set of Batman balloons. Members of Milwaukee Public Schools and Common Council were all in attendance. Educators described Sandra as loving, caring, nurturing and a student who stood up for justice. 

Sandra's award-winning essays and writings were shared and echoed through the church. One titled, "I'm Tired."

"I'm tired of the disrespect and people deaths no more no less. Putting bullets through our chest trying to stop us from being the best. Talking down on our people being the cause of our deaths wonder who's next," written by Sandra Parks.