05/15/2026
Are you sitting down? I answered, Yes Al, I am. Wait, What's happening? ((Pause)Wannie, preacher passed away. Car accident and the funeral is this morning.
Noooo, not Wannie!!
We don't know! They said, we wanted to tell you, but wanted to wait until you returned. Wannie was a promise. So much potential. Tears again... Intelligent; a Leader you could clearly see. He started in boarding school. He was respectful, dressed clean and would do whatever I asked or said.
Would walk in the Hope Center every day, ready to work, joke, and play! He listened when I said, "Don't you miss a day of pay." He was a committed worker and earned all his paycheck.
Our annual HOOPS FOR HOPE Basketball Tournaments, under our ManUp program Wannie earned MOST VALUABLE PLAYER and walked around the neighborhood showing off his medals. He did that!
But what I will cherish and miss most is his group projects and speeches.
Wannie shared with youth his experience.."You don't want to go there." He was strong, real, honest, and had a sincere heart, that prevented youth, scared straight. So much potential...
As he walked in the center never unassured, always confident, eager to learn; He walked in as "The man."
Adulting: Ma, or Ms Tracy eager to share, he is a father, or any success happening in his young adulthood. A hug was always in order and me asking, preacher, What's the word for the day? FAITH he said. You must have FAITH.
While at the funeral, there were two little boys manishing before your casket. While prayer was going on, I layed my hands on them, I felt God as they stopped. I looked up and saw the PowerPoint and your picture looking directly at me as if to say, Ms. Tracy them..the children, young boys need Angels of Hope. Help save them. START YOUNGER. Even now you are ministering. Man looks at the outward, but God looks at the heart. God's mercy endureth forever! โ๏ธ
Angels of Hope will host our 2026 Summer closing program in memory of Jauwan "Wannie" McMillan.