Family of Deceased Black Teen Honor Him at His Funeral in a Very Unusual Way

New Orleans, LA — The family of Renard Matthews, an 18-year old Black teen who was robbed and fatally shot while walking his dog, chose to honor his memory through a unique, unusual wake. His remains were seated on a chair in front of a television screen, beside a table full of his favorite snacks and with his hand holding a video game controller.

Matthews, whom a neighbor described as “a nice young man,” has had an untimely death that devastated his family. His mother Temeka Matthews says her son was quite a homebody and he only recently started going out to walk the dog she gave to him.

Matthews’ family decided to have his body prepared for Sunday afternoon’s wake in a way they want to remember him. He was embalmed and placed in a position he is usually in when he was alive.

Matthews was known to play recreational football and basketball. His mother said Matthews is a Boston Celtics fan and his favorite athlete was Celtics guard Kyrie Irving.

At the Charbonnet Labat Glapion Funeral Home in Treme, he was seated on a chair next to his favorite snacks, wearing an Irving jersey and sunglasses, holding a video game controller, and facing a television playing his beloved Boston Celtics.

Family and friends gathered for the Sunday wake. and during the funeral on Tuesday, they marched to the funeral home to the tune of jazz music as his body was carried in a horse carriage.

Watch the raw footage below: