On a quiet evening of June 8, 2024, a tragedy unfolded on Thornton Road which ended the dreams and aspirations of a 12-year-old boy, Elijah "EJ" Holmes. As reported by FOX5 Atlanta, EJ was struck by a car while crossing the street near the intersection of Waterway Circle. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition but did not survive.

Less than three weeks shy of his 13th birthday, EJ's passing has deeply affected his family and community. "Very helpful, truly a gentle giant," EJ’s mother, Nadia Holmes, said in a statement obtained by FOX5 Atlanta. She is currently preparing to transform what was intended to be a celebration of his life into a commemoration of his young spirit. EJ aspired to join the band at Floyd Middle School soon and had dreams of becoming a judge one day. He was also a part of the Wallace Park football team in Mableton, according to information from 11Alive.

The Douglasville Police are still investigating the incident, and no decision has been made yet regarding any potential charges against the driver involved in the accident. In the meantime, Nadia Holmes has called on officials to install pedestrian signs in the area, to possibly prevent future tragedies such as this.

Nadia's focus now lies solely on organizing her son's funeral, which is set for June 28, 2024, coinciding with what would have been EJ's 13th birthday. "The only thing I can focus on right now is just having a funeral birthday celebration for my son. At this point, I can't even think about anything else right now," she explained to FOX5 Atlanta. In an effort to cover the unexpected funeral expenses, the family has started a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $20,000. As per the latest update, they have managed to gather just over 10% of their goal.

In her son's memory, Nadia Holmes embraces the theme of his anticipated "Glo Up" year for the funeral. "Rather than planning a birthday celebration, I am now organizing a funeral to honor his memory on his birthday, June 28th," she shared in a poignant message on the GoFundMe page, reaffirming the hope that EJ now rests in peace, as reported by 11Alive.