{"id":3149,"date":"2023-08-03T14:36:21","date_gmt":"2023-08-03T14:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/foreverinourhearts\/?p=3149"},"modified":"2023-08-03T14:36:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T14:36:21","slug":"atlanta-hawks-adrian-griffin-jr-testifies-at-church-after-his-nephews-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/foreverinourhearts\/2023\/08\/atlanta-hawks-adrian-griffin-jr-testifies-at-church-after-his-nephews-death.html","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta Hawks’ Adrian Griffin Jr. Testifies At Church After His Nephew’s Death"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Atlanta Hawks forward Adrian Griffin Jr. prayed, testified, and received prayer with his extended family during a worship service at Midwest Believers Church in Illinois as they mourned the sudden loss of his two-year-old nephew, Jayce.<\/p>\n

Griffin\u2019s aunt by marriage, Rhonda Cloin, who leads the church with her husband Trent Cloin<\/a>, told the congregation that her grand-nephew died unexpectedly and \u201cwent to Heaven.\u201d During a Facebook Live broadcast, Cloin said, \u201cBefore we move any further in the service, I want to ask everyone to gather around my family. They\u2019re on the front row. Many of you probably have already heard, but our little buddy, Jayce, the little boy that\u2019s always at church with me, unexpectedly went to Heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued, \u201cOur hearts are heavy, but we know he\u2019s with Jesus. We have to hope that we get to see him again.\u201d It\u2019s unclear how Jayce died, and the family didn\u2019t offer any comment on the situation. Jayce is the son of Griffin Jr.\u2019s older brother, Alan Griffin and Jasmine Riggs. Alan also plays professional basketball, recently playing shooting guard for the Newfoundland Growlers in Canada. Alan and his brother are the sons of Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin.<\/p>\n

In multiple social media posts, Riggs called for an investigation into her son\u2019s death, stating that the Griffins told her nothing when she called to find out how her son was doing in his father\u2019s care. In a Facebook post<\/a>, she wrote, \u201cMfs didn\u2019t even have the decency to tell me sorry my baby died while in their care. No text, no call, didn\u2019t even respond when I asked how my baby was doing the day before. Thought I was doing the right thing by letting him see Jayce. I pray this autopsy gives me the answers I need. Lord, this pain is unbearable.\u201d Riggs also stated<\/a> in an Instagram post that she wanted to see the Griffin family held responsible for her son\u2019s death.<\/p>\n