Public Memorial Set for Hudsons

A public service will be held for Jennifer Hudson's slain relatives in Chicago on Sunday

In response to the outpouring of well-wishes, prayers and neighborhood vigils, Jennifer Hudson's family announced today that a public memorial service will be held this weekend in memory of the entertainer's slain mother, brother and nephew.

Chicago's Hudson Funeral Home, which is run by Hudson's aunt and is handling the arrangements for both the public and private services, confirmed that an open community memorial service would be held at the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday at 4 p.m.

The service will be preceded by an hour-long private service at the church.

"The Hudson family welcomes anyone who wishes to attend and pay their respects to these three beloved members of the Chicago community," reads the announcement.

The Pleasant Gift Church is the home parish of the Hudson family, and both Jennifer and her sister, Julia, the mother of 7-year-old victim Julian King, have reportedly spent time there in the wake of last Friday's tragedy.

Neither Jennifer nor Julia will attend the public service, though other relatives are expected.

Exactly one week ago Jennifer's mother, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, and brother, 27-year-old Jason Hudson, were found dead in their South Side home of multiple gunshot wounds. King was found in an SUV on Monday and is said to have died from the same cause.

The investigation into the deaths is ongoing, and no arrests have yet been made, though Chicago police confirmed today that the .45-caliber gun recovered Wednesday was indeed the weapon used to kill the trio. The gun, which was reported stolen from Michigan, has yet to be linked to Julia's estranged husband, William Balfour, the designated "person of interest."

It was announced earlier this week that the Hudson family would be holding a private, invite-only service on Monday morning at Chicago's Apostolic Church of God.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to the newly created Hudson-King Domestic Violence Protection Fund.

(Originally published Oct. 31, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. PT.)