ORANGE PARK, Fla. – After more than a decade of uncertainty, the family of a 9-year-old boy is once again holding a piece of him they feared was lost forever.
The family of Justin Khalief Davis was reunited this week with the memorial urn they had been missing for years, thanks to a chance discovery inside an abandoned storage unit and the help of News4JAX viewers.
The urn was originally found inside a storage unit bought at auction off Blanding Boulevard by David Purdom, who said he believed for years that the urn contained Justin’s ashes. He kept it safe while trying unsuccessfully to locate the boy’s family.
ORIGINAL STORY: For 10 years, a stranger has kept a 9-year-old boy’s ashes. Now he’s renewing the search for the child’s family
After News4JAX shared the story last week, the family finally came forward and it was then learned the urn was a memorial piece, not one containing cremated remains. Still, Justin’s family said the urn held deep emotional meaning and its return brought long-awaited closure.
“I’m very excited about it,” Justin’s father, Justin Davis, said as he received the urn at the News4JAX studio. “It’s a new day.”
Justin Davis said being reunited with the urn helped bring a sense of peace.
“It does bring closure,” he said.
Justin Khalief Davis died in 2012 after being struck by a car while crossing the road. His father described him as a bright, kind child who loved football and did well in school.
“He never gave us any trouble at all,” Davis said. “He was a God-sent child, and I know he’s home with God.”
The urn was lost years later when the family had to forfeit a storage unit. Davis said he learned about the discovery after receiving a call from his mother, who had seen the News4JAX story.
“My heart started fluttering,” Davis said. “I was in a panic. I reached out as soon as I got the information, and they were very receptive.”
Purdom said he often wondered what had happened to Justin’s family during the years the urn sat in his garage.
“I was always curious,” he said. “I wondered what happened to the family all the time.”
Crystal Meadows helped David with the search for Justin’s family and said the response from the Jacksonville community played a critical role in reuniting the family with the urn.
“Duval really stood up on this,” she said. “So many people reached out and said, ‘I’ll donate time, I’ll give my services.’ They didn’t let the story die.”
Purdom said Meadows’ phone was flooded with calls, texts and emails within 24 hours of the story airing.
As emotions ran high during the reunion, Justin Davis joked that Purdom had already earned a new title.
“I called him Grandpa on the phone,” Davis said.
“I’m almost old enough,” Purdom replied.
For Justin Davis, the moment was overwhelming but healing.
“I’m just full of emotions right now,” he said.
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