Jennifer Hudson expressed her heartfelt gratitude Thursday for the public support she’s received since last month’s tragic loss of her mother, brother and nephew.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” the Oscar winner, 27, wrote on her MySpace Celebrity blog under the heading, “Thank You All.”

And, in true star form, the show will go on. Hudson recently gave her blessing to a scheduled appearance in Gap’s seasonal ad campaign, according to E! Online.

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Donald Trump doesn’t just have the golden touch for business - he also has a heart of gold.

The real-estate mogul has been housing Jennifer Hudson and some of her relatives at the Trump International Hotel %26 Tower free of charge.

“She’s a great girl. And we’re protecting them well,” Trump told PEOPLE at a benefit honoring Australia director Baz Luhrman at the Museum of Modern Art Monday night. “They are very safe.”

Hudson has been seeking refuge at the Trump holding since her mother, brother and nephew were murdered in Chicago on Oct. 24.

Trump’s largesse was first reported by E! Online.
- Jeffrey Slonim

Source:www.People.com

As Jennifer Hudson and her family try to begin their healing process in the wake of the murders of her mother, brother, and nephew, perhaps they can take a bit of comfort in the fact that police have detained a possible suspect for questioning.

Chicago police have identified William Balfour as a “person of interest” and have been holding him since October 24th for a non-related parole violation.

A previous Chicago Tribune report stated that Balfour had admitted to his girlfriend that he was in fact involved in the murders of the “American Idol” alum’s mother Darnell Donerson, and brother Jason Hudson. Balfour, however, said he had nothing to do with Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew Julian King’s death.

The police will have a couple of weeks to come up with a case against Balfour, as his next parole hearing has been scheduled for December 3rd. Stay linked to the Gossip Girls for the latest in this developing story.

Source:www.celebrity-gossip.net

William Balfour - the “person of interest” in the slayings of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew - is due in court Monday, when officials will determine whether he should remain in custody or be set free.

The 27-year-old Balfour, who is Hudson’s brother-in-law, has not been charged. But he remains the only person police have named in the case. “As far as our investigation, there are no new developments at this time,” Chicago Police spokesman John Mirabelli said Sunday.

Balfour was picked up by police on Oct. 24 - the day the bodies of Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson were discovered - and sent to a state prison for a parole violation.

At 9 a.m. Monday, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board will consider if evidence in the Hudson case demonstrates that Balfour violated the terms of his release for a 1999 conviction on attempted murder and carjacking charges. If not, he could be released as the investigation continues.

Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were shot to death in the family’s home on Chicago’s South Side. The body of Julian Hudson (the 7-year-old son of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia) was found three days later in the back seat of Jason’s Chevrolet Suburban.

(Police has linked all three murders to a handgun found about a block from the abandoned SUV.)

Balfour has said he was at the Hudson home on the morning Donerson and Jason Hudson were shot, and his current girlfriend allegedly told police that admitted he was involved, police sources told the Chicago Tribune.

Meanwhile, Balfour’s estranged wife, Julia, paid tribute to her mother - who would have turned 58 on Nov. 7 - with a MySpace message that reads, “Happy Birthday Mama!!!!!”

Source:www.People.com

It’s been a horrific couple of weeks Jennifer Hudson and her family, and yesterday she finally said goodbye to her slain family members during an intimate private service in Chicago.

The “American Idol” alum reportedly took a few moments at the caskets of her brother Jason Hudson (29) and nephew Julian King (7) before moving on to her mother’s casket (Darnell Donerson, 57) and leaning down to kiss her.

Fellow “American Idol” contestant Fantasia Barrino offered a beautiful rendition of “Your Grace and Mercy,” taking Hudson’s hand and singing directly to her.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley as well as Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke at the ceremony before a horse-drawn carriage led the procession to the final burial location at Oak Woods Cemetery.

Source:www.celebrity-gossip.net

Jennifer Hudson kissed her mother goodbye during a heartfelt private service for her slain family members in Chicago on Monday.

The Oscar-winning actress spent a few moments at the caskets of her brother and nephew, and gently touched the body of her mother before leaning down to kiss her, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Toward the end of the service, American Idol’s season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino sang a rousing rendition of the gospel classic “Your Grace and Mercy.” During the song, she walked into the aisle where she took Hudson’s hand and sang directly to her.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley both spoke at the service. After the funeral, a horse-drawn carriage led the procession to the cemetery.

Police discovered the bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother on Oct. 24, and her nephew’s three days later.

Though no one has been charged, police have classified Jennifer’s brother-in-law, William Balfour, as “a person of interest.”

The Hudson family members will be buried at Oak Woods Cemetery on the South Side of Chicago.

Source:www.People.com

On Sunday night, friends and family paid their respects to Jennifer Hudson’s slain mother, Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian Hudson in a public memorial service at the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church near their Chicago home.

Flanked by three of her students, Carmen Williams, Julian’s second grade teacher, spoke poignantly about the bubbly 7-year-old, and read a few comments from students’ journals.

“I’m sad he didn’t get to be President,” one child lamented, while others remembered a generous and funny boy who loved to tell knock-knock jokes and play Power Rangers.

Shari Sweat, a cousin, focused on Darnell, remembering a woman who was proud of her academic background and loved the song, “From Out of Nowhere, Jesus Found Me.”

“She was gentle, special and loving,” Sweat said.

Another relative, Rev. Quentin Washington, recalled Jason as a caring, churchgoing man who encouraged him to pursue his career as a minister.

“They are all in Heaven having a ‘hallelujah good time,’ ” he said. “Their lives … were not in vain. Their legacies live on.”

Police discovered the bodies of Hudson’s mother, 57, and brother, 29, on Oct. 24, and her nephew’s three days later. Though no one has been charged, police have classified Jennifer’s brother-in-law, William Balfour, as “a person of interest.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer and her sister, Julian’s mother Julia Hudson, have established the Hudson King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims in honor of their loved ones.

“The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime,” according to Jennifer’s MySpace page.”Thank you for your continued support.”

Source:www.People.com

It was a somber occasion yesterday as friends and family of Jennifer Hudson mourned the loss of her mother Darnell Donerson, as well as her brother Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew Julian Hudson.

The public memorial service was held at the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Il, and a bevy of guests turned out to pay their respects.

Julian’s second grade teacher, Carmen Williams (along with three of her students) gave a loving eulogy about her former student, making reference to his charm and charisma. She remembered, “Julian was a role model, an academic whiz and a best friend. You could look into his eyes and you knew he always had the right answer.”

Reverend Quentin Washington, a relative of the Hudson family, gave a heartwarming speech, comforting his family with the thought that Darnell, Jason, and Julian are all in a better place now. “They are all in Heaven having a ‘hallelujah good time. Their lives … were not in vain. Their legacies live on.”

Source:www.celebrity-gossip.net

In the wake of the murders of her mother, brother, and nephew, Jennifer Hudson, along with her family, announced yesterday that they’ve started a new foundation for families of murder victims.

The former “American Idol” contestant helped form the Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, named in honor of her mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, brother Jason Hudson, and nephew Julian King.

In a statement to press, the family said, “The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime. This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling.”

Speaking at a Chicago-area prayer vigil, the Reverend Jesse Jackson told mourners that Hudson and her family “are overwhelmed by the suddenness and the unexpectedness of it all. This family knows triumph, and they also know tragedy.”

Source:www.celebrity-gossip.net

Jennifer Hudson’s family announced Thursday a new foundation for families of murder victims.

The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims is named in honor of the singer-actress’s slain mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King.

“The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime,” the family says in a statement. “This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling.”

Donations to the Hudson-King Foundation can be sent:
c/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP
Attn: William L. Abrams, Esq.
237 West 35th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001

“Jennifer sang her first song in this church - she said her first prayer in this church,” her cousin Shari Nichols Witt said of the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church. Witt also spoke fondly of the actress-singer’s slain nephew, saying 7-year-old Julian King “seemed like he was ahead of his time.”

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who spoke at the vigil, told PEOPLE that Hudson, 27, and her family “are overwhelmed by the suddenness and the unexpectedness of it all. This family knows triumph, and they also know tragedy.”

As the community grieved the loss of the Dreamgirls star’s relatives, the 27-year-old parolee considered a suspect in their shooting deaths, William Balfour, remained in police custody Thursday.

Balfour - the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister Julia - was being held on an alleged parole violation.

• Reported by JULIE JORDAN, NIKITTA FOSTON and HILARY SHENFELD

Source:www.People.com