Sometimes I feel as if living in a city where shootings, stabbings and other violent crimes happen all too frequently makes it easy to forget the pain that such incidents cause victims and their families.

A week-and-a-half ago, on Nov. 21, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death outside his west Baltimore middle school.

That 15-year-old, I later found out, was my cousin, Markel Williams.

Having been out of town when he was murdered and finding the situation confusing, I had to rely on report from The Baltimore Sun and local television stations to help make sense of it all. Markel and I were not close, but he was family. Even if he weren’t family, his murder would have still sent a shock through my system: a 15-year-old stabbed to death, allegedly by another student — only 14 — with whom he had a beef.

Neither boy could have been perfect, because no one is. The tragic thing is two lives were forever changed on that Friday. One life ended — Markel’s. But another life ended, in the sense that Timothy Oxedine now faces murder charges. The boy who turned himself in to authorities at least knew somewhere deep inside that he had to take responsibility for what he had done.

The lives of these two boys, I knew, had to be more than a story of imperfection and flaws.

At Markel’s funeral Saturday, much of what I thought I knew was confirmed, and what I didn’t know was presented to me. I already knew that Markel had parents who loved him and tried their best to lead him in the right direction. I already knew of his love for his family, especially his brothers and sisters. And I knew that, despite his tough-guy attitude, he was a good-natured kid.

I also learned of his passion for music — in fact, that he was a self-taught musician. I learned of his great sense of humor. And I learned of his affinity for basketball, something he shared with his older brother.

In that west Baltimore church, as family and friends alike remembered his life, I thought about how important it is to connect with young people before it’s too late for them to realize how much potential they have to do great things.

I’m reminded of the words of Dr. Freeman Hrabowski: “A person can be imperfect and still do great things.”

Hopefully, Markel’s death will be a wake-up call in communities where there are children in need of help, of nurturing, of mentoring, of support.

Hopefully, Timothy and his family can move forward and he can still lead a productive life.

Hopefully, healing can take place for all those who are suffering, and whose lives have been filled with pain as of late.

To honor my cousin’s memory, I’ve made a resolution. I’d like to volunteer or mentor a child who needs someone who can nurture and support him or her.

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