At Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, household, pals, classmates and church members slowly filed in to have a good time the lifetime of 20-year-old Jade Elise McKissic.
The College of Houston pupil’s physique was present in Brays Bayou on Sept. 15, one in every of 16 our bodies found in Houston’s waterways this 12 months. McKissic went lacking on Sept. 9 and was pronounced useless on Sept. 18. The Houston Police Division acknowledged there was no foul play. The reason for loss of life continues to be beneath investigation.
McKissic was remembered for her heat, religion and ambition. Her loss of life has shaken the town far past the partitions of Wheeler Avenue.
In September, the UH group gathered at Lynn Eusan Park to recollect McKissic. Meditation Monday UH, the place she served because the social media chair, performed the vigil.
One other vigil happened at LA Burgers & Daiquiris, the restaurant the place McKissic was final seen alive.
“It’s a second the place we pause to specific grief and gladness,” mentioned Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, senior pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. “Our hearts are damaged due to a beloved, treasured baby. She [McKissic] has been taken away from us, however on the identical time, we specific gladness as a result of she meant a lot to so many and she or he blessed so many lives in simply 20 years.”
A lifetime of religion and enthusiasm
McKissic’s memorial service started with scripture readings from Psalms and John, adopted by a prayer from Dr. Timothy Sloan, senior pastor of the Luke Church in Humble, the place Jade was energetic within the youth ministry.
“Thanks for such an exquisite and vibrant soul,” Sloan mentioned. “Thanks for a younger girl whose goals ignited us all…whose spirit lifted. Thanks for permitting us to be entrusted along with her only for a number of years.”
Sloan additionally devoted a prayer to McKissic’s mother and father, relations and classmates who attended the memorial service.
“Might they expertise your power on this second,” Sloan informed the congregation. “Might they know that you just nonetheless maintain the world in your fingers. And regardless of how a lot sorrow we would really feel, your phrase says that we will nonetheless run to a rock that’s larger than we’re.”
Dr. Brandon Williams, pastor of pupil life on the Luke Church, who additionally oversaw the youth ministry, mentioned her affect locally was vital.
“She strived to unfold the love of Christ. Her potential to construct relationships was second to none,” Williams informed the Defender.
Cosby’s eulogy, “In Simply 20 Years,” drew from Ecclesiastes 12:1, which reads, “Keep in mind your Creator within the days of your youth.” He informed the congregation that Jade embodied that verse.
“Jade was an instance of what a younger, Godly womanhood should appear like…having fun with life and the Lord,” he mentioned. “We wish to have a good time that she was an instance. That’s why so many college students would come over right here on the Saturday morning as a result of she was an instance to them of their younger lives, to be part of a household of religion the place you’ll be able to develop and mature and turn out to be all that God needs her to turn out to be.”
Describing McKissic’s smile as one which “brightened up rooms,” Cosby added she was obsessed with her educational and religious work.
“She worshiped the Lord with every part that was in her,” he mentioned.
McKissic’s legacy
Resolutions poured in from throughout the group. Metropolis Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz despatched condolences, whereas the Luke Church and Better Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas shared letters of remembrance.
“The senior pastor and members of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church are in deep sympathy with Jade’s household as her treasured life and legacy are remembered as a daughter, a granddaughter, a liked one and a pal,” the decision learn. “We esteem Jade’s light, caring and artistic spirit, her expansive artistry and musicality and the indelible imprint she made within the lives of others.”
To commemorate McKissic’s commencement ceremony, Donnell Younger, UH Affiliate Vice President for Scholar Affairs and Dean of College students, introduced her household with an honorary commencement plaque.
“Phrases can not seize the sorrow we really feel in our hearts and ideas throughout this unimaginably troublesome time,” Younger informed the McKissic household. “Please know that your grief is shared with many colleagues, college students and pals who care deeply about you. Jade’s reminiscence lives on within the hearts of those that knew her. The group stands with you and honors her spirit and her life.”
Reflections additionally poured in on her funeral providers web site.
“Once I consider Jade, I consider the gemstone not merely for its title, however for its rarity,” Dion Matthews’ remark learn. “She was as uncommon as they arrive. Outstanding and nothing in need of superb. Jade was numerous issues ,genuine, humorous, artistic, sensible and exquisite. The record might go on. However the one factor she wasn’t, was replaceable. Mentioned with a heavy coronary heart relaxation simple, Jade. Till we meet once more, I’ll maintain tight to each chuckle, each reminiscence, every bit of you I used to be fortunate sufficient to know.”
A metropolis trying to find solutions
The Houston PD are being negligent and I really feel just like the native information as properly. Why haven’t any of the our bodies identities aside from Jade McKissic been launched? That is ridiculous that ANOTHER physique of an unidentified girl has been discovered! pic.twitter.com/DDt57POPS4
— SheLovesThee (@SheLoves_THEE) September 26, 2025
The Houston Police Division and Mayor John Whimire mentioned there are not any confirmed hyperlinks or indicators of foul play, although autopsies are ongoing.
Police Chief Noe Diaz and Whitmire have additionally rejected social-media hypothesis of a serial killer, emphasizing that drownings and accidents are frequent within the metropolis’s bayou system.
Nonetheless, the string of discoveries, significantly the loss of life of McKissic, has left many residents fearful and heartbroken. On social media, college students and church members are demanding security enhancements alongside Houston’s waterways and better transparency from regulation enforcement.
