Coleman’s Mortuary | Hastings, FL

Obituary For Jontae Keith Merritt

Jontae Keith Merritt, 24, of Hastings, was born December 25, 1995 in St. Augustine to Carolyn Peeples and John Merritt. He was educated in St. Johns County school system. Jontae was a member of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church where he served with the youth department and Sunday School. He enjoyed basketball, football (Miami Hurricanes), little league and he loved music. He was preceded in eternal rest by his mom/aunt, Leria Peeples, grandparents, John and Annie Peeples, aunt, Barbara Peeples, Uncle, Ernest and Dennis Peeples He leaves to cherish his memories: mother, Carolyn Peeples (Stephon), father, John H. Peeples, brothers, Brian (Lisa) Singleton, Dontae (Kisha) Gilmore, William (Meka) Peeples, sister, Shantrea (Clifford) Calloway, nieces, Sarai Singleton, Amyrah Singleton, Jazara Singleton, nephew, Dontae Gilmore, Jr. uncles, Charles (Alma) Peeples, William (Melinda) Peeples, Victor (Sandra) Peeples, aunt, Margret Anderson, and a host of cousins and friends. The Merritt family will receive friends and the community on Friday, December 4, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Coleman’s Mortuary Chapel. Graveside service will be on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 11:00a.m. Armstrong Cemetery.

Guest Book

May 14. 2021... I just seen Gdawg on Insta with Soulja K 😂 of course I thought of you 🥰 I know you vibed with his music hard asf. I love you baby 💯 RIP 🙌🏾 #GC

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3.6.21 the day I realized I pushed you away .. forgive me.

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Vivian Green- Cursed ... I never heard the song until now and that is how tf I feel. Smh

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I'm in my feelings right now thinking about you, I hate to think of the last time of me seeing you. It's all so sad. Yesterday made 3 months where I have literally not talked to you. It makes me question how long did we ever really go with out talking when u were here. I try to stay busy and I would rather forget anything concerning you, the shit hurts dawg. I hate you not here , If I knew , I know these people look at me like I'm crazy. One min I'm good and the next I'm boobooing crying. I really miss you Jontae.

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I'm sitting here thinking about you baby and reminiscing. We had so many crazy moments together SMH. I don't like to reminded that you are gone but here I am living without you. We could never leave each other alone lol, now look. SMH. I miss you. I'm doing good, you always said I'll do good. I hated how u would say I'm better with out you now look at me. I don't f with no one. I want to see you but I know I can't. I hated how u left me but that's ok. I still love you. You did me wrong and I did you wrong but the love still remains. I wish I were here !! The memories don't seem like enough to me rn. It was better when we would talk about them or laugh at the crazy shit we did lol You know what, I'll make sure to hold on to that because that is a memory.. I love you baby. RIP #Jan.16.21 12:35 PM

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We lost a good man 💔 RIP Jontae

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Rip Jontae. I love you. I'm thinking about you and I do miss you I'm taking out this time 11:42 am January 1. 2021 to ask God to have mercy on your soul and allow you to rest until the time comes for us to be with the king in Jesus name. I also ask him to forgive you for sins in hopes that you believed Jesus died on the cross for our sins fr 💯💯 other than that I know you straight then. It's a new year, I'm here without which I would've never imagined, or thought ever to lose a souljah so close to me but I will be strong and live for God. As he prepares me here on earth for him. I will be praying. I will always love you. And the Lord say vengeance is mine so I surrendered beileving that he will do something about the way you were murdered.. the way u had to go is not my place to say was his will but I do know whoever had something to do with was wrong. U are strong. U were courageous to follow your feeling which led u to that moment in time rather u were ready or not. It has me afraid sometimes but I know God is worthy .. I miss you. I love you.

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Continuously praying.. Long live Jontae KK Merritt 🖤

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A good man

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Strong, mindful, giving, caring, loving, smart

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Jontae loved his family, the ones he was close to in his heart, I'm sincerely sorry for your lost because I now understand. We lost a good man smh. His youth homeboys, his brother, prayerfully we make it through this storm but don't forget that he was human too. Everyone not going to keep it real but come on? Ask yourself how are you feeling knowing that he is gone and left like this? I know he was not ready to go. I know he loved us. We all had our share of good and bad with him. Were you able to make mends? Forgive your self. Please!! He forgave us all (who would've known God was preparing him for victory) I only pray he forgave himself.. He was hard on himself worrying about what love ones said and how they felt, especially so called friends in the streets... He was lost for awhile yet I believe he found his way home. The heart knows .

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I'm trying to hold on to all our memories. The good and bad!! And don't mind sharing any of them because I feel like I know him even though I don't I was learning him which was a mighty task that I enjoyed even though it frustrated me sometimes. He had good memory and we'll me, sadly something I don't remember. Like childhood memories, he remembered them all! As for me, I couldn't relate. So yes being realistic, I don't want to forget him. It's scary, I know he's in my heart but I don't want to mentally let go not one memory of him. I hate for anyone to ask am I ok and tell me to move on . I love that man, I seen his transition in life . From 17-25. From 2013-2020, these were important years for any young person. I met his worse and I love it because I love him. It was who he was . He was a good man, with a good heart . I witnessed a white man in Burger King one morning in October tell him, he was a good person, he was a good man. I was blessed, I just kept telling n telling jontae to hold on to that. I believe he did because he knew.

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My favorite memory with Jontae was the day he walked up to me sitting at the park across from the barbershop in Hastings. Actually when we walked all night getting to know each other looking at the stars . I believe now that I think on this that, that night kept us a strong for many nights. He was there for me nmw! It got to a point he may not have been when I wanted him to but he was there always when I needed him, even when I didn't know I needed him. His existence can't be replaced.

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Rip bruh you left too soon I want for get the time we had chilling in working across from each jokein see you on the other side love bruh we stayed burn gas

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Please Attach To The Previous Message Jontar Was One Of The First Babies In My Daycare. From-Gwen Floyd, Friend and Neighbor.

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Jontae was one of the first baby in my home daycare in 1996. He was very quiet and I enjoyed keeping him, I moved one street over from where he lived and always remembered to wish him happy birthday because he was born on Christmas, he would sometimes attend Church with us because he stayed friends with my other daycare care babies I kept, I would encourage him when I would see him because I knew 88he was very good at Math and that was something I always struggle with. I will miss our hellos and short conversations.

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Edit:post was from reesha

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SINCERE PRAYERS FOR HIS LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS! ASKING GOD FOR STRENGTH AND PEACE AS EVERYONE COPE THIS TRAGEDY.

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Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Coleman’s Mortuary | Hastings, FL