RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Rupert Haughton, 36, was a minister of songs and effectively-acknowledged member of the gospel local community, in accordance to people who knew him.
His mother and father, Delroy and Diane Haughton, spoke with 8News on Monday, just days immediately after their son was killed in Richmond’s first homicide of 2022.
“He sang in the church, beloved the church. He praised God, and every thing was ideal,” Diane Haughton stated. “He was a light-weight to the choir and everyone.”
Rupert Haughton, the youngest of 9, moved to Richmond in 2003. He attended Virginia Union College (VUU), and would go on to lead the gospel group R. Timothy Haughton and ReNewed. The singers experienced a short while ago returned from travel, and experienced been nominated for many awards by way of the Countrywide & Unbiased Gospel Music Association’s 14th Annual Rhythm of Gospel Music Awards, as perfectly as the Texas Gospel Music Excellence Awards.
“[To] have a loved a single and, you know, lifestyle minimize off so shorter, it is very unfortunate and it is heartbreaking,” Delroy Haughton said. “It’s just anything that hits you so tough, that you never even though that matters like this would transpire so suddenly.”
Rupert Haughton’s mothers and fathers stated he grew up in New York Town, the place they stay presently. But he fell in love with the south.
“He’s a pretty lovable man or woman,” his father stated. “He’s humorous, and he liked to make someone come to feel great. If you’re depressed, he was there to make you sense welcome.”
Delroy and Diane Haughton mentioned that their son was born into the church. From a young age, he showed an affinity for music. Primary a gospel group was a childhood dream of his.
“He cannot be compared to no person else,” his sister, Jeanette Hill, claimed. “He just would flip every little thing into laughter.”
Although Rupert Haughton did not have biological family in the better Richmond location, his dad and mom and sister instructed 8News that he made one particular, as a result of his church and the group.
The night time Rupert Haughton was killed, 8Information spoke with the mother of 1 of the youthful adults who sang with him in the R. Timothy Haughton and ReNewed team.
“A actual reduction to the local community, the individuals who know him, the individuals who had the opportunity to minister with him,” Michelle Penn claimed. “Just to be in his existence, you would just fall in enjoy with Rupert.”
His dad and mom mentioned they are relying on “the grace of God” to get them by means of this hard time, as they work on remaining arrangements for their youngest youngster.
“We’re heartbroken,” Delroy Haughton reported. “We cry, we cry, we cry, we cry, we communicate about it, and then, I go to my mattress. I can not snooze because it’s so surprising to me that that happened to him.”
Delroy and Diane Haughton said that they previous observed their son throughout Thanksgiving. He insisted on baking a pie for every person, a different one of his passions. His sister explained he liked to cook dinner and check out people today delight in his food items.
“Everywhere he go, individuals chat great of him,” his father claimed. “He’s this sort of an inspiration to people.”