VALDOSTA —

VALDOSTA — It is not the faith in man that helps the Edgerton family cope with the loss of their loved one, but rather, the undying faith in the Lord.

Recently, Hilda Edgerton and her three children have dealt with the harsh reality of the murder of her husband and their father, Stephon Edgerton.

As the investigation into the murder of the 40-year-old Stephon Edgerton continues, the family clings to the belief that God’s will and His plan will be unveiled in due time.

Stephon Edgerton, also known as the popular radio personality Juan Gatti, was ending his shift Friday, Jan. 20, when he was shot three times outside of the radio station off Highway 84. Before losing consciousness, he was able to call 911 and provide a description of his attacker.

Upon receiving the news of his death, Hilda and her family tried to quickly digest what law enforcement told them of the incident and, at the same time, deal with rumors spreading like wildfire throughout Lowndes County.

In their first media interview, the Edgertons didn’t discuss the case, but rather the man who is still loved and missed everyday. This Times reporter expected to see a family sobbing and barely able to make it through the interview. On the contrary, Gatti’s widow and children, 13-year-old Mia, 8-year-old Christian and 6-year-old Winston, were all well-spoken, in good health, and even had moments of laughter as they fondly spoke of good times they shared with the loving husband and father.

One of the many special moments mentioned was the yearly Father-Daughter Dance which Mia and her father, whom she described as her "crony" and "hero,” attended in 2007, 2010 and 2011. It was the 2011 dance when Stephon assumed the role of father to his niece, Raquel Williams, and escorted her, too.

Being a close-knit family, Hilda said they do for each other. It was still important for young Mia to experience the feeling of being a “princess” for a night especially after the recent tragedy that rocked their family's core.

In her father’s absence Mia’s cousin, Sterling Bryant, traveled the distance from Savannah to Valdosta to ensure Mia had a date to the Father-Daughter Dance.

In a very direct and mature voice, the middle schooler said, “Although my father died a very brutal death and left us expeditiously, the memories we shared will last a lifetime.”

After hearing the initial words coming out of the young teen, The Times reporter looked to the mother who quickly added that she did not tell her daughter what to say, that the words which flowed from her mouth were words that began in her heart.

“I truly miss the ambiance of love and happiness he carried everywhere he went,” Mia smiled.

With this interview taking place on Valentine’s Day, Mia said her school day was particularly difficult.

“I usually don’t cry,” she said. “I mean, I cried some at the funeral, but I’m not really a crier. Today was hard because he used to give me some sort of stuffed animal, a box of chocolate and a card ... but what I miss most of all is his love. That was the best Valentine Day gift I could have asked for.”

In switching gears, Mia had mature words regarding her feelings toward the person who took her father’s life.

“To have wrath and hatred towards him won’t hurt him. It will only hurt me. Spiritually, he is in bondage. ... May God have mercy on that man’s soul. There’s nothing I can do. It is in God’s hands now.”

Mia's cousin, Raquel, 14, was composed but showed signs of sadness in her eyes as she spoke of the man who was more like a father than an uncle to her. The young face lit up briefly when talking about how “ecstatic” she was when she attended last year’s father/daughter dance with Stephon and Mia.

“My uncle was a very loving person,” Raquel said. “I lost my dad when I was 11 but, even when he was alive, he was not around like my uncle was. I was so excited to go to the dance, I cried. I was ecstatic! It really meant a lot that a man who wasn’t my father and who had his own family, took the time to take me to the dance ... I know my uncle was a true man. I really appreciate him. I’ll never forget him.”

When asked about the effect his murder had on her, she replied, “At first I was angry. ... I mean, people pass away, but it was the malicious way in which he died that still bothers me. I have forgiven the man who killed him. ... As Christians, you have to forgive.”

Raquel’s words inspired Mia’s spiritual insight concerning the events that led to the moment her father died.

“I know we are God’s chosen people,” Mia began while appearing to be in deep thought. “The time my father stepped out that door and was shot ... he was chosen. God allowed him to be able to make that call and give a description of the shooter. An ordinary man wouldn’t have been able to do that without God giving the OK. My dad was royalty ... He was a part of God’s royal family. God let my father go and did him a favor. ... If he would have stayed on this earth, he would not have been able to enjoy music the way he always had, and God knew this.”

Mia was referring to the extensive damage done to Stephon’s body by the gunshot wounds. A medical report has not been released as to the damage done.

“The Edgerton family is much like Job from the Bible,” the teen continued. “God allowed the devil to try Job because he knew Job was strong in the midst of adversity and would seek the Lord for guidance ... through everything, he held on to his faith.”

Mia asked her mother if it would be all right to share a scripture to finalize her interview. With her mother’s permission, Mia recited Deuteronomy 29:29: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children ..."

Christian Edgerton decided he, too, wanted to share some special memories of his father. He said before his father left the house for work on that fateful day, Stephon jokingly told the 8-year-old he would put him in a headlock (Christian smiled). He also brought out a photo comparing his likeness to that of his father when he was a young child himself.

Hilda smiled often and laughed a time or two when good memories were shared. She said she was most proud that Stephon was a hands-on father.

“He was not a part-time daddy,” she affirmed. “Part of the difficulty I deal with in all of this are the hurtful rumors floating around. I knew him. ... I knew what kind of father he was. I knew how much his children meant to him. We raised our family together. We were a close family, but like everyone else, we are human. No one is perfect. I thank God the children knew and spent time with their dad.”

Speaking of time together, Hilda smiled when saying March 7 would have been the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary and they planned a get-away to Las Vegas. When asked how she copes daily, she said it’s by God’s grace and the overwhelming support from family and the “amazing” community in which we live.

That outpouring of love and support was constant during the hour-long interview. Valentine's Day gifts accompanied individuals from the school where Hilda is a teacher. Hilda’s god-children stopped by for a visit, and her mother and god-brother were present for additional support.

Hilda didn’t show any signs of bitterness or hatred for the man who violently took her mate and the father of her children away, but she did want it known to all who think it’s all right to just take someone’s life: “You cannot prosper when you do something so hateful to someone else.”

At one point during her daughter’s interview, the soft-spoken woman excused herself from the living room for a short time but returned looking just as refreshed as she did in the beginning.

In a final plea on behalf of the family, Hilda said with strength and clarity, “Continue to love the Lord our God will all your heart through this trial. We pray not only will our family be transformed spiritually to a greater level, but also that there be transformation within this community. We also believe in the power of prayer and the word of God states that: ‘The prayers of the righteous availeth much...’ and I know there are some praying people in Valdosta, Ga.”

Before calmly saying she was done, the courageous woman stated with certainty, “We know this killer will be revealed.”