VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - This Sunday mark three years since Kendrick Johnson was found dead in a rolled up gym mat at Lowndes High.
Kendrick was just 17 years old at the time of his death.
His family believes he was murdered, but law enforcement contends that his death was accidental.
The Department of Justice currently has an investigation open into the case.
To mark the the anniversary of his death, Kendrick's family has scheduled several events over the next few days.
On Friday, the weekend of remembrance kicked off with a rally at the courthouse and concluded with a community meeting that brought together families from across the country.
Friends and family of Kendrick Johnson gathered Friday evening at the Lona and Gladys Event Center, just miles away from where his body was found three years ago.
The families of Michael Brown, the St. Louis teen shot and killed by a police officer back in August 2014, and Corey Jones, who was killed by an off-duty officer in West Palm Beach in October 2015, were also in attendance.
The families say they were compelled to travel to Valdosta in support of Kendrick's family because they know what it feels like to go through this kind of loss.
"We are here to give support because, what we're going through, we don't want another family to go through," said Jones' Aunt, Sheila Banks. Jones' Uncle added, "When you see other people on TV, you think it's probably not that bad. When it comes to your front door and then you feel the pain, you don't want anybody else to feel the pain."
Kendrick's family says it's this kind of support that lets them keep moving forward in their search for justice, even three years later.
"It's kind on an emotional thing to be in the same room as these families that have suffered the same loss as my family has. It's emotional but it's uplifting to know there are families out there who are willing to band together and support each other," said Kendrick's aunt, Lydia Tooley Whitlock.
While Kendrick's family says this weekend is about seeking justice, they also say it's a time to remember Kendrick and the impact he had on their lives.
His grandmother Barbara English remembered her grandson as a happy teen. "He liked to have fun and he smiled a lot, he was a quiet boy. My peculiar grandson, that's what I call him."
On Saturday, the family is hosting a peace walk from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at John W. Saunders Memorial Park. The walk is followed by an anniversary dinner and red and black ball at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
Then on Sunday, they are holding a prayer breakfast at 9:00 a.m. At 1:15 p.m., they plan to have a balloon release and prayer vigil at Kendrick's grave site.
