Honors and scholarships for adults and youth
The War Cry 4 Peace 2026 Awards and Scholarship Reveal and Mayor’s Olympic Games Challenge took place June 7 in Ocala.
Camiah Roberts, 18, received a $20,000 scholarship to Advent Health University in honor of her brother, Tylique Christie, at the War Cry 4 Peace Awards and Scholarship event held at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place in Ocala on June 7, 2026. [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]
The War Cry 4 Peace 2026 Awards and Scholarship Reveal and Mayor’s Olympic Games Challenge event that took place on June 7 saw dozens of local youth recognized for continued commitment to school and family while working through loss caused by gun violence.
The gathering at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place also announced students awarded scholarships by the E.B. Mills Foundation and acknowledged a number of adult leaders in the community for their mentoring of youth.
More than 40 youth were called to the stage and given certificates to recognize their “perseverance and resilience,” according to event organizers.
Marion County School Superintendent Danielle Brewer and War Cry 4 Peace founder Kimberly Wilkerson presented the certificates. Wilkerson said all the youth had gun violence tragedies in their families.
Darrell Tolbert gave an uplifting talk titled “There is a champion in you,” which urged the youth to recognize their inner strengths.
The Liberty Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Children’s Choir sang several rousing songs, which drew a strong audience reaction.
The afternoon also hosted four students from War Cry 4 Peace families who received scholarships sponsored by the E.B. Mills Foundation of Florida, represented by Eric Jewell.
Camiah Roberts, 18, received a $20,000 scholarship to Advent Health University in honor of her brother, Tylique Christie. She was accompanied at the event by her mother, Cassandra Christie. According to a Sept. 22, 2023, “Gazette” report, Tylique Christie, then 19, was shot and died following an episode in northwest Marion County with a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old, who were later arrested.
The other scholarship recipients were:
* $2,500, to Kendall Vandyke, in memory of Reginald McKnight Sr.
* $500, to Jiyah Hamilton, in memory of Courtreaz Goldsmith
* $2,500, to Trinity Hopkins, in memory of Willie Jones
According to its website, the foundation focuses on “unlocking equity and prosperity in the West Marion County community and investing in solutions for systemic change in Marion County’s West Highway 40 corridor.”
Adult leaders recognized at the event and hailed for their support, mentoring and contributions to the community included Wayne Alllen, Diane Thomas, Ora Lee Jackson, Rodney Rocker Jr. and Winona Youmans.
War Cry 4 Peace was founded by Wilkerson, an educator, coach and pastor, in 2014. The organization seeks to “help mend/heal families and communities affected by gun violence through impactful solutions, support systems and services,” according to its website.
Wilkerson was recognized by Ocala City Councilman Ire Bethea during the gathering on Sunday and said that she is scheduled to speak at an upcoming City Council meeting, with a date yet to be announced.
Ben Marciano is the mayor of Ocala and an avid fan of fitness initiatives. The Mayor’s Olympic Games Challenge, announced as offering fun challenges for youth, such as punt, pass and kick in football, was held after the awards ceremony, with Marion County High School volunteer coaches, accord to a War Cry 4 Peace Facebook post.
To learn more, go to warcry4peace.net and find them on social media.
War Cry families (names of the deceased in bold)
Tiffenany Arce (Antion Shade Jr.)
- Alyen St Fluer
- Prince St Fluer
- Zakari St Fluer
- Laliah Roberts
- McKenzie Roberts
Sharongila Bethea (Devonte Boyd)
- Ava Bethea
Ciera Chisholm (Ronnie James)
- Phoenix James
- Ron’I James
- Jermoni Turner
- Jer’Ni Turner
Cassandra Christie (Tylique Christie)
- Camiah Roberts
Lachele Davis (Daniel Davis Jr.)
- Cornelius Blunt
- Abel Davis
- Antonio Davis
- King Davis
- Rico Davis Jr
- Daniel Williams
Shaundreka Goldsmith (Courtreaz Goldsmith)
- Malachi Goldsmith
- Leia Reid
- Nehemiah Reid
Janice Goodman (Ja’Narre Suggs)
- Jacali Bright
- Ja’lani Suggs
- Jhevier Suggs
Eddie Hamilton (Courtreaz Goldsmith)
- Jiyah Hamilton
Theran Hargrove (Tevin Hargrove)
- Alaina Hargrove
- T’hari Hargrove
- T’niyla Hargrove
Brianna Hill (Jairah Raines Sr.)
- Jabria Raines
Jabriel Hopkins (Willie Jones Jr.)
- Trinity Hopkins
- Trenton Hopkins
Fashun Ivery (Jairah Raines Sr.)
- Jairah Raines Jr
- Jeremiah Raines
Ebony Johnson (Ezekiel Tuggerson)
- Sarai Johnson
Kensley Levister
- Kensley Levister
Cheryl Mann (Jordan Keke Davis)
- Samarion Bagley
- Savion Bagley
- Stephon Bagley
- Jordan Davis
Barbara Manuel (Christopher Jones & Roderick Kinsler)
- Kelly Jones
Iris McCoy (Reginald J. McKnight Sr.)
- Pa’Dyn Evans
- Jordyn Roundtree
- Jace Suggs
- Jaxon Suggs
- Khlya Vandyke
Lesia Nelson (Altwan Entevin Crim)
- Zi’Riyah Washington
- Zi’Niyah washington
- Z’Reon Nelson
Sayde Nixon (Michael Hugley)
- Michael Hugley-Nixon
Danielle Pete (Troyrelle Bell)
- Toryann Bell
- Ezekiel Pete
Yvonne Raines (Jairah Raines Sr.)
- Elijah Barnes Jr.
Rhiana Rodgers (Ronnie James)
- Royal James
- Reign James
Dashan Simpson (Jerry Bynes)
- Nalyeis Bynes
- Ravenna Bynes
- Nalaiah Santiago
- Jadaya Simpson
- Jashan Simpson
Brenda Vereen (Ralph Croskey)
- Amir Vereen- Belle
Monique Weeks/ Mary Weeks (John Marcus Weeks)
- Jekari Weeks
- Jordan Weeks
Winona Youmans (Willie Jones Jr.)
- Victor Youmans III
Source: Kimberly Wilkerson
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