By Bryan Schwartzman
The Shekinah Youth Chapel was overflowing with emotion as more than 700 people gathered last week to pay their last respects to Lillie Mae Hollingsworth, trying to focus on the essence of her character and not her murder.
Scores of people squeezed into the Allen AME chapel and jam-packed the aisles Feb. 23 to attend a funeral service that stressed faith in God and life despite the monstrous crime that took Hollingsworth's life.
Hollingsworth, 74, was a popular member of the Jamaica community, splitting her time between her activities with the Allen AME Church in St. Albans and several bridge clubs in the area.
She was found stabbed to death in her home at 115-15 169th St. shortly after 9 a.m. on Feb. 16 in one of three homicides that occurred in the 113th Precinct that week.
Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said the death was caused by sharp-force injuries to the head and torso, a perforated lung and a hemorrhage.
While the body is normally viewed before the service, the funeral director decided to forgo that custom.
“She was someone who was always for the underdog, she was a member of the church for more than 30 years,” said her son, Julius Hollingsworth, in an interview before the service.
He said he had moved out of his mother's house only three weeks ago and was having trouble coming to grips with the way she died.
“I am glad they were able to get somebody,” he said, referring to the arrests of two suspects within 24 hours.
Duane Brown, 19, a neighbor of Hollingsworth's, has been charged with murder in the first degree, which would make him eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted. Brown allegedly stabbed Hollingsworth several times until she died, and then took the keys and drove off with her 1992 Hyundai.
He then allegedly gave the car to a friend, Jay Glover, in Long Island City who was later arrested for possession of the stolen automobile.
But instead of discussing the crime, friends and family talked about Hollingsworth's sense of humor and her dedication both to her immediate family and the community at large. The Cathedral Choir, for which she sang tenor for many years, moved the room with a rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”
“Look for some changes in heaven, when our Lil gets there,” said longtime friend Claude Jones.
Jones described Hollingsworth to the mourners as a feisty woman who always brought out the best in people.
“She is in a better place. She had a hard life, but she was a good woman,” said Julius during his tribute to his mother.
In his eulogy, the Rev. Floyd Flake expressed the disbelief he felt when he learned of the incident. He said he initially felt very angry
