‘We are in this together’: Perry mourns, seeks healing at Ahmir Jolliff’s funeral

A week after the shootings at Perry High School that claimed the life of 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff and left seven others wounded, somber members of the Perry community, many clad in the school's blue, gathered in the pews of the city's St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Joined by dignitaries including Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, they came to the limestone-walled, 120-year-old landmark near the center of town on Thursday to mourn, to say goodbye to Ahmir and to begin the difficult challenge of moving on from the tragedy.

Andrea Brownlee, senior pastor of Perry's First Christian Church next door, who presided at Ahmir's funeral service, told them that moving forward together is exactly how Ahmir would have wanted it.

"Whether you knew Ahmir or his name before last Thursday or not, you know him now," said Brownlee, standing in the pulpit before the blond wood casket, topped with a spray of flowers, that held Ahmir's remains. 

"And just like Ahmir did, you have business to take care of, business of being with people of sharing your kind and embodying forgiveness and ensuring that kindness always prevails," she said. "We are in this together. We can't live in this moment, holding our breath, waiting for what might happen next."

Shootings 'a reality that will be etched in our souls for the rest of our lives,' bishop says

The lingering shock from the Jan. 4 shooting spree that took Ahmir's life and injured four other students and three school staff members, including Principal Dan Marburger, has hung like a pall over Perry. But Brownlee and Father Litto Thomas, who delivered a message from Bishop William Joensen of the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, urged Thursday's mourners to celebrate the life of Ahmir, nicknamed "Smiley," who attended the middle school adjacent to the high school and was at breakfast in the cafeteria when he was shot three times.

"Ahmir's spirit was bigger than an 11-year-old body could contain," Brownlee said.

Joensen's message called on the town to not only remember Ahmir but also the family of 17-year-old Dylan Butler, the shooter, who took his own life. "Their hearts are heavy too," it said.

It called the shootings "worse than a nightmare but a reality that will be etched in our souls for the rest of our lives." But Joensen said it is important for those mourning to come together.

"We pledge and commit ourselves to do all within our power to embrace all children," Thomas read from the bishop's statement. "To protect and accompany them so that they might gain a sense of belonging and might grow and flourish. We implore God that the shadow of violent deaths might never again loom over us and that we might share peace and brotherhood. Restore the trust. And yes, even share a smile together."

Brownlee said Ahmir was a boy who always wanted to bring people together, something that was happening in the wake of his death.

"This past week has found us in the darkest of valleys, in a place we hope we never would find ourselves," she said. "Some have been holding their breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Others have dropped everything to make sure that people in our community have everything they need.

"And even now as we are gathered in this place, others are working together to find ways for us to take the next steps forward on this road together."

Ahmir's family, including his mother, Erica Jolliff, followed his casket into the church and occupied the first five pews. In an interview last weekend, Jolliff recalled her son, born March 24, 2012, in Chicago, as a font of happiness and sociability, who seemingly knew everyone in town and whose ample dimples were constantly lit with a grin.

'It’s going to take a long time to heal'

As urged by Brownlee and Joensen, people interviewed by the Register said the town has been working to rally from its grief.

"The whole community’s rocked by this," said Chris Hinds, Perry’s former fire chief, who arrived at the church early to help out.

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But he said it has been encouraging to see signs of support all over town, evidenced by the blue ribbons tied around lampposts downtown and displays of the “Perry Strong” slogan. 

"‘Perry Strong’ says it all,” he said. 

Lynsi Pasutti, Perry Chamber of Commerce executive director, who was preparing to enter the church, said, “Everyone’s finding ways to show their support.” 

Pasutti encouraged residents to continue to do so, whether “physical, emotional support, financial, showing up to places. Whatever people can do, they’re doing.” 

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Dan Spellman, who’s been an attorney in Perry since 1970, was shoveling snow from the parking lot of his office near the church as the mourners arrived. He said he has granddaughters who are Perry High School students. They weren’t at school at the time of the early morning shootings, which came as classes were resuming for the first time after the winter holiday break ― though one of them was only a few minutes away. 

“A lot of her friends were in there, and they saw the shooting,” Spellman said. “They’re traumatized.” 

He also knows Marburger, the still-hospitalized principal, and was part of the community team that was involved in his hiring.

The shooting will leave a “significant, permanent impact” on the community, and people are carrying trauma that has not yet surfaced, Spellman said. 

“It’s going to take a long time to heal,” he said. “You’d never think something like this could happen in Perry, Iowa, or any place else.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this article.