Juice WRLD Laid to Rest During Private Funeral in Illinois

Rapper Juice WRLD, who suddenly died at the age of 21 earlier this month, has been laid to rest. Family and friends of the late “Lucid Dreams” rapper, whose real name is Jarad Anthony Higgins, gathered together on Friday during an open-casket funeral at Holy Temple Cathedral Church of God in Harvey, Illinois — near his Chicago hometown — to say their final goodbyes. In the funeral program obtained by TMZ, his mother Carmela Wallace left an emotional tribute to her son, writing, “My dear son Jarad, God trusted me to raise you and I poured all I had into you as the Lord guided me. We were inseparable and even though you left home early, we were always in each other’s hearts and always had a special bond.

” “We were always overjoyed to see each other, and you still called me ‘mommy’ as you hugged and kiss me when you saw me,” she continued. “Your love was pure and innocent, and your heart was genuine. You truly cared about people and wanted to make the world a better place. ” “I am going to miss you dearly,” she added.

“Rest in peace my dear one; mommy loves you. ” Juice WRLD died on Dec. 8, shortly after having a seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport, according to a report from TMZ, which first reported the news. The outlet reported that the rapper remained conscious while en route to a local hospital, where he died shortly after.

A spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that he was pronounced dead at 3:14 a. m. on Dec. 8 at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Juice WRLD’s siblings — Brian, Alyssa and Maya Wallace — left a joint message dedicated to their brother in the funeral program as well. Opening with a Plato quote, their message read, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, fight to the imagination and life to everything. ” “Jarad, you brought life, light and laughter to everyone you met. We will carry you in our hearts always.

We love you,” they concluded. His grandma Cecilia Darden also left a touching message to Juice WRLD. “My dear Grandson, you brought smiles, laughter and love into [our] lives,” she began.