TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo community is rallying to celebrate the life of Kei’Mani Latigue, who would have turned 14 on Friday, March 28. Friends, family, and local organizations are coming together to remember the young girl who touched many lives with her kindness and generosity.
A candlelight celebration of life is scheduled for Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wilson Park on Otto Street. Community members are invited to participate in the heartfelt gathering, where they can pay their respects by bringing their cars, slingshots, and bikes in honor of Kei’Mani. A balloon release is also planned for 6 p.m. at Ohio Skate on Opportunity Drive, where attendees can further commemorate the young teen.
The community’s efforts to support Kei’Mani’s family don’t stop at the celebration. Local businesses have partnered to raise funds for her funeral services. Wheelin’ on the Rocks, a local bar and restaurant, is hosting a benefit and poker run on Sunday, March 30, with contributions from businesses like Kickstand Saloon, Daffy’s, and Corner Saloon. All donations will go to Brown Legacy Memorial Funeral Home, where Kei’Mani’s funeral arrangements are being made.
Chrissy Antoine, the owner of Wheelin’ on the Rocks, shared the community’s collective desire to ensure Kei’Mani’s memorial is as special as she was. “I want something for her, I think the whole town wants something for her,” Antoine said. “To have an abundance of flowers, a beautiful casket, maybe a park bench, or anything to help with the memorial.”
Kei’Mani, a seventh-grade student at Spring Elementary School, was remembered by her teachers and classmates as a sweet, kind, and generous individual. Despite the tragic loss, her legacy lives on through the memories she left behind. A Toledo Public Schools spokesperson confirmed that she had been recognized at her school’s Honor Roll Assembly and was set to receive a kindness award this week.