Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to her murdered nephew Julian King on Friday as he was given a posthumous graduation.
The singer/actress and her older sister Julia - Julian's mother - were touched when his former school, Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy in Chicago, Illinois, paid tribute to their former student.
Jennifer and Julia were invited to speak to students and parents during the 8th grade graduation ceremony, as the teenagers prepared to enroll at High School in the Fall.
Bitter sweet: Jennifer Hudson and her sister Julia spoke at her late nephew's posthumous graduation at Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy in Chicago, Illinois on Friday
Tragic: Julian was just seven years old when he was murdered by his stepfather William Balfour in 2008
As well as noting what would have been a big milestone for tragic Julian if he had lived, the school also honoured him with a plaque on a chair.
It also appeared the Dunbar High School had given Julian an honorary 'place' as a student in the new school year, who would have been 14 today.
Proud aunt Jennifer posted a series of photos of the chair, the order of service and his fellow students in their cap and gowns on Instagram, admitting it was a 'bitter sweet' day for her and her sister.
Sadly missed: Julian's former school unveiled a plaque in his honour
Captioning the image of his seat plaque: 'His seat! Will still live on! We celebrate you!'
In another shot of herself and Julia speaking on stage, she wrote: 'It's not always easy but together we made it!'
She also uploaded a photo of the little boy, who was just seven years old when he was murdered by his stepfather William Balfour in October 2008.
She captioned the image: 'Julian d. King 1st day of school pic! Today, he would have graduated from 8th grade. I'm sure with honors! My tugga bear.'
Jennifer shared a photo of Julian's classmates who were preparing to start High School
Julian was also given an honorary place at Dunbar High School in the forthcoming new school year
William, who was estranged from Julia at the time, murdered her and Jennifer's mother Darnell Donnerson, 57, and their brother Jason, 29.
When Darnell and Jason's bodies were first discovered at their Chicago home, young Julian was reported missing.
Sadly, he was found dead in a vehicle across town three days later with an autopsy determining he had died from 'multiple gunshot wounds'.
William, who was 27 at the time, was convicted in 2012 on all counts against him, including three of first-degree murder, one count of home invasion and another count of possession of a stolen vehicle.
He is currently behind bars in Illinois.
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