A cousin of George Floyd’s shared her memory of whom she described as a “gentle giant.”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before the death of George Floyd sparked a movement, his cousin Paris Stevens said the family referred to him as “Perry.”
She told WCNC Charlotte she remembers family gatherings as a cornerstone of their connection.
“Every summer I would go to Goldsboro and we would have such a great time, such a wonderful time to be with all of the sisters, all of my aunts and uncles,” she said. “Perry would be there, and his personality was so big, but he was like a gentle giant. All the kids loved him because he was super tall when he was a teenager — over six feet tall then.”
Stevens said the Minneapolis neighborhood where Floyd said his last words, “I can’t breathe,” has been supportive of the family.
“They’ve kept that place sacred,” she said.
As the five-year anniversary approaches, Stevens said the emotional journey is ongoing.
“It’s cyclic how you feel from day to day. It’s like the stages of grief, so, from day to day it can be different,” Stevens said. “I’m always optimistic that I can continue to do something to change someone’s life, even if it’s one person.”
The family faced the additional challenge of mourning publicly, while the video of Floyd’s death went viral.
“It’s like a double-edged sword — it affected so many people, not just in Minneapolis but across the world,” Stevens said. “We were raised to be respectful and humbled by my grandparents. And so it was a tightrope into making sure you’re doing the right thing and acknowledging others’ feelings, whether they’re for you or against you.”
WCNC Charlotte also spoke to Floyd’s uncle, Selwyn Jones, about the anniversary. During the interview, which aired on Live Impact News on WCNC+, Jones said he has become “obsessed” with wanting the make a positive change in the world, and wants others to know there are countless ways to get involved.
“There’s so many opportunities for people to get together to communicate about these things since May 25, 2020,” Jones said. “So, you don’t have to be silent. You don’t have to sit on the sidelines — because there’s enough work to go around.”
While the guilty verdicts against former officer Derek Chauvin brought some closure, Stevens said she believes they represent something more.
“With the verdict, it was more of an accountability,” she said. “So, I think going forward it kind of set a precedent of, ‘We can no longer accept this behavior,’ that you’re going to be held accountable for your actions.”
While Stevens said there has been some progress in police reform since her cousin’s death, she added there could be more change.
“From city to city, there have been different reform acts that they put in place,” Stevens said. “Are deaths still occurring? Is abuse still occurring within law enforcement or corrections? Yes, it does still occur. That’s something we still have to work on. We do need more strict reform.”
The family organization, Rise and Remember, will hold their fifth annual memorial events in Floyd’s name in Minneapolis next week. Featured events include concerts, community recognition and education.
“I want everyone to continue to battle and fight in your own way,” Stevens said. “Everyone can make a difference no matter how young or old you are. Your voice does matter.”
