Last night represented a tough moment for friends and family of Jennifer Hudson’s slain mother, Darnell Donerson, brother, Jason Hudson, and nephew, Julian King, as more than 100 people attended a private memorial service in honor of the three murder victims at the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago’s South Side.

Mourners listened as the second-grade teacher of the Academy Award-winning actress’ 7-year-old nephew recited paragraphs from journals written by Julian King’s classmates.

Accompanied by three students, Carmen Williams of Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy explained that Julian King was a very intelligent boy, who loved telling jokes.

“When Julian raised his hand, he had that enthusiastic light in his eyes, and he always — always — had the right answer,” Carmen Williams remembered the boy.

Jennifer Hudson did not attend the service and neither did her sister, Julia Hudson, the 7-year-old boy’s mother and the suspect’s estranged wife.

Mourners greeted and shared tears or smiles while music played on the chapel speakers.

Shari Sweat, a cousin of Darnell Hudson Donerson, referred to Jennifer Hudson’s mother as “Doll,” the 57-year-old’s nickname. She explained that Donerson was very excited about the upcoming elections, wanting to take part in the decision regarding the future of the nation.

“Doll refused to be left out of this historical moment in this nation, and before she left these shores she cast her vote,” Shari Sweat said.

As Julian King’s cousins sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” the 7-year-old’s classmates talked about their colleague, saying that he was very generous and a big fan of Spider-Man.

One of the lads expressed his grief with regard to Julian King’s premature death and explained in a journal entry that Jennifer Hudson’s nephew was smart enough to become president of the United States.

Sean Howard, executive assistant to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, said that he accompanied the Hudson family when they went to identify the boy’s body at the medical examiner’s office last week. He said that the singer and actress was extraordinarily strong and that she offered her relatives support, in spite of the fact that she had been overwhelmed by the tragic events as well. Sean Howard called Jennifer Hudson a “true leader,” with regard to her attitude toward the murders.

Rev. Quentin Washington, Jason Hudson’s cousin, told those present at the memorial service that the entertainer’s brother would have turned 30 on February 17.

As the ceremony was being held, fans waited outside the church in order to take part in a public memorial service which was due to take place immediately after the one for friends and family.

The bodies of Darnell Donerson and Jason Hudson were found on October 24 at their Chicago residence. Julian King’s remains were found three days later in an abandoned SUV belonging to one of the victims. Although the murder weapon was discovered close to the spot where Julian King’s body was found, police have not filed any charges yet.

William Balfour, the boy’s 27-year-old stepfather, has been in police custody since the first two bodies were found. He was arrested for parole violation, after spending several years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle and has also been named a “person of interest” in the Hudson case.

Jennifer Hudson is expected to pay tribute to her relatives on Monday during an invitation-only funeral due to be held at Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God.