Exclusive
Ahmaud Arbery‘s mother wants to do something special for her son to mark the 1-year anniversary of his death … so she’s organizing a public candlelight vigil.
Wanda Cooper-Jones tells TMZ … Ahmaud’s family will be gathering at his final resting place — New Springfield Baptist Church in Waynesboro, GA — on February 23 for the event.
Wanda says they’re asking everyone to wear a blue ribbon in a show of solidarity and in remembrance of what happened. She says blue was Ahmaud’s favorite color.
As we reported … the 25-year-old was killed on Feb. 23, 2020 while jogging in Brunswick, GA, but it wasn’t until graphic video of the incident surfaced in May that Ahmaud’s death grabbed national headlines and ignited a demand for justice.
Nearly 3 months after the killing, Travis and Gregory McMichael were arrested and charged with murder in Ahmaud’s killing … along with alleged accomplice William “Roddy” Bryan.
As the anniversary approaches, Wanda says she’s overcome with a sense of dread thinking about how her son died — and it’s a reminder her son is never coming back.
This past weekend, she remembered she and Ahmaud went to a barbershop together on Feb. 13, 2020 — and, of course, it turned out to be the last time.
We’re also told the family is working on launching a foundation in Ahmaud’s honor — something separate from the 2.23 Foundation … which is not affiliated with the family.
Wanda says before next week’s vigil, the family will do brunch together — along with their attorney Lee Merritt — to share stories about Ahmaud.