Academy-Award winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson joined family and friends Friday to unveil a street sign in honor of her late slain nephew.
The sign, at 44th Street and Sacramento near Julian’s old school, Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy in Brighton Park, designates a portion of Sacramento as Honorary Julian D. King Way.
“Julian was remembered so well and respected at only seven years old,” Hudson said of the boy who was murdered along with Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, in October 2008.
“That’s just a testament to who he was and how he was.”
After Julian’s death, Hudson and Julian’s mother, Julia Hudson, set up the Julian D. King Gift Foundation in his name. The foundation hosts an annual “Hatch Day” holiday to distribute school supplies to children in the Chicago area, as well a Christmas Toy Drive.
“Words cannot express what this means,” Julia Hudson said at the dedication ceremony attended by Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th).
“It’s wonderful. His legacy will live on forever. As long as the street sign is around, somebody is going to always remember Julian D. King.”
Julian, who was affectionately called “Tugga Bear” by his family, would have graduated eighth grade last year.
The boy and the Hudsons’ two other loved ones were killed by Julia Hudson’s ex-husband, William Balfour.
Balfour, whose deadly rampage was sparked by jealousy over Julia Hudson’s budding relationship with another man, is currently serving three consecutive life sentences.
