lil poppa funeral arrangements are now set, with the late Jacksonville rapper scheduled to be laid to rest on Saturday, March 7, in his hometown. Lil Poppa, born Janarious Wheeler, died in Georgia on Feb. 18 at age 25. The funeral service will be held at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, and the church’s pastor has confirmed the service is open to the public with strict security measures expected.
Service details: public funeral, strict security, and no recording
The funeral service is scheduled to begin at 10 a. m. ET at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, located at 1118 W. Beaver St. Pastor Harry Williams of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church confirmed the service details and said an extremely large crowd is expected.
A funeral flyer states that security will be “strictly enforced, ” and it lays out a clear no-recording policy. Phones, recording devices, Meta glasses, and cameras of any kind will not be permitted inside. The flyer adds that guests who do not comply will be respectfully escorted out.
Lil Poppa’s death and official ruling
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Lil Poppa died from a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a suicide. He died in Georgia on Feb. 18.
The announcement of the public service comes as fans continue to gather details and prepare to pay respects in Jacksonville, where organizers are signaling the event will be tightly managed to protect the family’s privacy and maintain order.
Immediate reactions: Toie Roberts speaks out amid grief and criticism
Toie Roberts, the mother of Lil Poppa’s child and the daughter of Rick Ross, posted a message on social media addressing the loss and pushing back on online criticism surrounding her relationship with the late rapper.
“MYKEL..what’s understood don’t ever have to explained especially to the internet! nothing could EVER describe the pain, the thoughts, the constant heartbreak of it all, ” Roberts wrote, referring to him by his middle name and describing their “reality changing” in the wake of his death.
Roberts also addressed those she says have blamed her for his passing. “then they speak on what they THINK they know, i can’t lie I’M OFFENDED. Y’ALL DON’T KNOW SH#T! Y’ALL DON’T KNOW ME! Y’ALL DONT KNOW US!” she wrote.
She emphasized the impact on their child, writing: “MY SON LOST HIS FATHER! i will never take that lightly! when everybody move on with their lives, it’ll still b me and our son living in it. ” She ended her tribute with a direct message to Wheeler: “Janarious, i got J’nar. you go on & get your rest. ”
Quick context on Lil Poppa’s career
In 2022, Lil Poppa signed with rapper Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group, a major career step. He released songs including “Love & War, ” “Mind Over Matter, ” and “HAPPY TEARS, ” along with projects such as “Almost Normal Again. ”
What’s next for the public service and crowd management
Organizers are preparing for what Pastor Harry Williams described as an extremely large turnout, with strict enforcement of the no-recording rules inside the church. As lil poppa funeral plans move into the final hours ahead of the Saturday service, attendees should expect heightened security and firm limits on devices, as the family and church work to keep the focus on mourning and respect.
