‘My tragedy is their triumph’: 5 years on, DeKalb mother of slain son Ezra Hill Jr. finds solace in community

DeKALB – Every year, when school lets out for spring break, it is a painful reminder for Andrea Elion.

It comes as a moment of loss because her son, Ezra Hill Jr., was killed in a 2019 shooting.

“He passed in March, spring break,” Elion said. “It was probably like the second day of spring break. I do struggle with [it] every year because I teach in DeKalb. While all the kids are counting down to spring break, I’m counting down to the day he died.”

EJ, 10, as loved ones knew him, was a Tyler Elementary School fourth grader. He was shot March 23, 2019, while sitting with his father in a car outside his father’s home in south suburban Harvey. He died from his injuries two days later.

His funeral was attended by hundreds, many who remembered the boy for the kindness he showed friends, the time he danced on a cruise, his love of wrestling and the video game Fortnite.

It’s community events, such as the annual rock-painting organized by the Ezra Hill Jr. Memorial Foundation, that put the Elions at ease.

“It’s so therapeutic,” Elion said. “It’s just really trying to put something fine on a little rock. It’s comforting.”

Each year, the Elions invite the community to gather at a memorial tree at Tyler Elementary to paint rocks that they place around the tree. A sign stands among the colorful commemoration with a poignant message: “Fly high, EJ.”

EJ’s stepfather, Brandon Elion, said the annual rock-painting event holds great meaning for him and his wife.

“We weren’t together at the time,” Brandon Elion said, referring to EJ’s shooting death. “[I’m] just doing what I can to help honor his legacy, my wife in her grief.”

Andrea Elion said seeing the way the community rallied around her in her time of need was moving.

“The school, when they heard of it, the whole community, when they heard of it, they were supportive,” Andrea said. “They all came out.”

Brandon shared that sentiment.

The turnout has stayed consistent as the foundation’s annual painting event approaches.

“We probably average hundreds of people each year,” Brandon said. “Coincidentally, it coincides with Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, which we didn’t know at the time. We just happened to pick a day school’s out. ‘The weather’s going to be nice. Let’s do it this day.’ The community has really come out and supported us. We’re grateful for that.”

The annual rock-painting event is set to make its return for the fifth year. It will run from noon to 4 p.m. June 7 outside Tyler Elementary School, 1021 Alden Circle, DeKalb. The rocks are laid around a tree on the school’s grounds, donated in EJ’s memory.

“The community has really come out and support us. We’re grateful for that.”

—  Brandon Elion

Brandon Elion said the rock-painting event’s success inspired him and his wife to establish a foundation as a way of carrying out their work with more intention.

The Ezra Hill Jr. Memorial Foundation is active in the community in more ways than one. The Elions partner with the DeKalb Wrestling Club to sponsor scholarships, perform highway cleanups and serve as Gift of Hope ambassadors.

“It took a little seed-planting,” Brandon said. “It started off with the rock-painting event. And then from there, it was [like], ‘What else can we do to keep his name alive, honor his legacy, but then also give back to the community?’”

Brandon said that as a Gift of Hope ambassador, Andrea goes out to DeKalb High School in the summertime to speak to driver’s education classes about the benefits of becoming an organ donor.

EJ was an organ donor, he said.

Andrea said that the day her son died, she made the decision to give away his organs. She said she has since been able to meet Andy, her son’s heart recipient, and his family.

“We’ve had many vacations together,” Andrea said. “There’s like 15 of them and 15 of us, and we all came together. We went to Branson, Missouri. Me and Andy got on a couple of roller coasters together. I was able to listen to his heartbeat.”

There’s a special hope in connecting with EJ’s organ donor recipient, Andrea said: Perhaps it’s a positive outcome for both families despite the circumstances that brought them together.

“My tragedy is their triumph,” Andrea said. “They were happy to receive that good news, so that Andy can live, but I was heartbroken. We come together to try to get our minds off the sadness and just make new memories and have a good time with each other.”