From strength to spiritual growth: The life Kareem was building

The atmosphere at Life Worship Center on Saturday was reflective, gentle, filled with the kind of quiet that speaks of both grief and gratitude. It mirrored the life of Kareem Williams, a man remembered for who friends and family said he was becoming.

To those who knew him best, Kareem, affectionately called “Kreemy,” had athletic ability and natural talent.

“He was strong, powerful, athletic and naturally gifted,” his cousin, who described himself as more like a brother, shared. Brad Wood Jr recalled how Kareem carried himself with “heart, confidence and a presence you could not ignore.”

But beyond the strength people saw on the outside, Brad said something deeper was taking shape within him.

“He loved the Lord. I saw him take real steps to get his life together spiritually. It wasn’t just talk. It was something he was working on, something he was becoming.”

That journey was still unfolding.

Kareem’s life was cut short nearly a month ago in a tragic hit-and-run on East Bay Street. He had been helping a young woman out of a vehicle when both were struck by a passing car. The driver did not stop but was arrested later.

His best friend since the eighth grade, Darnell Thompson, remembered him as strong-minded but full of life. “He was stubborn, yes, but always smiling,” he said. “This is one of the hardest pills I’ve had to swallow.”

To his cousin Darneisha Ferguson, Kareem was “mischievous and carefree,” but also something more profound, a protector.

“He would place himself between you and harm without hesitation,” she said. “A gentleman, a helper, someone who showed up for others, whether he knew them or not.”