Following the brutal murder of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew last week, Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson has decided to establish a foundation, in honor of her family, for families of murder victims.

Jennifer Hudson’s life took a shocking turn last week, when the bodies of her mother and brother were found inside their home in Chicago’s South Side. Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, had been shot to death. Julian King, the singer/actress’s 7-year-old nephew, son of her sister Julia, was missing. An Amber Alert was issued for the child and Hudson even offered a $100,000 reward for his safe return. The little boy was found in an abandoned SUV Monday, also shot to death.

Jennifer Hudson’s family announced Thursday that it would establish the Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, which aims to help families of murder victims by answering their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as providing grief counseling, the family explained in a statement. The new foundation is so named in honor of the deceased family members.

A memorial service has also been finally planned, after days of uncertainty while Chicago police continued their investigation. The private memorial service for the three victims will take place Monday morning at Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God, the Hudson family confirmed yesterday. Only invited guests can attend the service. They have been asked to make donations to the Hudson King Foundation in lieu of flowers.

It is still unclear whether there will be a public service as well, considering the ample support shown to the actress and her family by the public through these difficult times. The Hudson Funeral Home, owned by Jennifer Hudson’s aunt, is handling the funeral arrangements and is expected to announce whether a public service will be held.

Chicagoans have been stopping by the Hudson family home to pay tribute to the slain victims ever since Friday, leaving flowers and notes and erecting shrines. Jennifer Hudson has thanked the public for the support and encouragement shown.
Unnamed sources told E! News that the 27-year-old actress has been at the Trump International Hotel & Tower ever since checking in last Friday, when her mother and brother were slain and her nephew reported missing. She was in Florida at the time of the murders and immediately boarded a plane for Chicago. Her family has been with her at the hotel, as well as fiancé David Otunga.

William Balfour, the 27-year-old estranged husband of Julia Hudson and the stepfather of Julian King, has been a person of interest in the police investigation since Friday. A convicted felon, he was released on parole in 2006 after serving seven years in jail for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking. The Illinois Department of Corrections on Saturday issued a warrant for Balfour for violating terms of his parole by possessing a weapon and not attending anger management classes and a substance abuse program. He remains in police custody. He has not been charged with any crimes.