Meet Jerin | Jerrin's Hope

September 17, 2007– December 21, 2023

Born on a peaceful September morning in Abilene, Texas, Jerrin Lee Hernandez came into the world at 7:58 a.m. with a full head of hair and a presence that would forever touch the lives around him. From the beginning, he was so very special — a playful baby who rarely cried, slept through the night, and filled his family’s world with joy and light.

Jerrin grew up surrounded by love and siblings who adored him. He attended Woodson Elementary, Johnston Elementary, Jackson/Alcorta Elementary, Maddison Middle School, and attended Cooper High School. Smart beyond his years, math was his favorite subject — a reflection of his sharp, inquisitive mind. He was very “book smart” but also deeply intuitive.

He was a child of God, protector, a prankster, a brother, a son, a grandson, a nephew, a friend — and so much more. Jerrin was fiercely loyal to those he cared for and full of warmth, someone who could make you laugh with a smile or melt your heart with a bear hug.

His love of basketball, football, boxing, hot sauce, belts and shoes painted the picture of a kid with style and energy — but he also had a soft side and a huge heart. He loved animals (even hiding strays in his room). He enjoyed going anywhere there was water and could start a fireplace like a pro. He would sing Christian songs to his mom to make her smile.

He loved playing and goofing around with all of his siblings and there was never a time that you couldn’t catch him pestering them as a big brother should.

When life asked him to grow up fast, Jerrin stepped up. He helped around the house, and thanks to his mother learned to cook and do laundry, and steadily became a source of strength during tough times. He had an appetite like no other, could live on soda, cereal, eggs, and ramen. He was so obsessed with spicy food that once he had to be told by a doctor to cool it on the hot sauce — though of course, he never did. He loved deeply, gave generously, and lived loudly.

In the last months of his life he also gave his heart and soul to our Lord and Savior. We know that as much as our hearts yearn to hug him and joke around with him again, he looks down from heaven as our ever diligent guardian angel and one day we will see him again.

Reflections from Those Who Loved Him

Kaytrin – Younger Sister
Jerrin was my fearless big brother. We would ride around on a four wheeler and he always kept me safe. He used to climbed on the roof to get our balls when they got stuck up there. He once saved me from falling out of a tube at Great Wolf Lodge. I always knew he had my back. He was goofy, brave, and my favorite person to laugh and mess with. I miss him every day.

Jayden – Closest Younger Brother
We gamed together all the time — sometimes pretending to be asleep just so we could keep playing after mom thought we went to bed. We battled on UFC in a hotel room all night, and laughed when Kaytrin beat him. “Shiva,” our dog, was even named after a Resident Evil character. He taught me how to cook eggs late one night and now because of Jerrin I get to teach my little brother. He loved playing tricks on me. He once poured pickle juice on me in the shower and tried to hide it with cologne, but mom still smelled the pickles— that was him: the prankster with a big heart. Jerrin told me things he didn’t tell anyone else. He was my protector and my best friend.

Jacoby – Youngest Brother
He called me “BuhBuh.” We played Fortnite together and football in the front yard. I remember playing basketball at Papaw’s house too. He made everything more fun.

Krystiana – Youngest Sister
I used to bring all my stuffed animals to his bed just so I could sleep next to him. He’d pick me up and hug me, even when I acted like I didn’t like it — I loved it. He taught me to make ramen and sweet tea. He always told me I was so beautiful. He let me play with his hair, and even played Barbies with me. He always kept me safe and made me laugh.

Krystal – Mom
Jerrin was born fast — just a few pushes — and he came into my arms with a full head of hair. He never slept in a crib, was always happy, and barely cried. He loved the movie Cars, always protected his siblings, and had the best smile. He called me “Momma” when he wanted something, “Mother” when he was mad.

He was so very smart, particular about his hair, obsessed with Q-tips(we would find them EVERYWHERE), and had an appetite like a grown man. He loved hot sauce so much he needed a doctor’s warning…yet he still would douse all his food with it. When I had COVID, he stepped up and cared for everyone. He sang Christian songs to me to prove he knew them and because he knew it made me happy. I taught him out to start up the fireplace in the winter and he became better at it than I was. He was my sweet boy with a hidden but HUGE heart and was always trying to make me laugh when he knew I was down.

He loved Mexican food, basketball, boxing, football, animals, water parks, and driving through big cities. He once told me, “One day I’ll be in a big city, and you’ll never have to worry again — I’ll take care of you.” That’s who he was. My first baby. My son. My heart.

Huery – Father
Jerrin had the best sense of humor and was fiercely protective. He’d drive his siblings crazy, but no one else was allowed to mess with them. He always tried to get me in his side and wanted me to go calm down Krystal when he was in trouble. We watched MMA, sang together, and tossed the ball outside. He was hardworking and always found a way to make us laugh. I got to show him how to trust in men again…he had been through a lot and had struggled letting me in. It was rewarding to be loved and trusted by him.

Todd-Abuelo
When he was a baby, he didn’t let anyone hold him — but when we came by, he climbed into our truck like he’d known us forever. I taught him to change oil and use power tools, and he was so proud. We took him to the Texas/Oklahoma border for the first time because he had never been out of state. One summer we took him to Schlitterbahn with his cousin — but I had to make him get up in the middle of the night to wash his stinky feet! He loved ghost pepper salsa and tried to act tough, but it lit him up.

Elsa – Abuela
At Schlitterbahn, I remember he stuffed a giant gumball in his mouth and wouldn’t take it out — he just sat there with it sticking out, so proud and made me laugh. I loved his silliness. He loved my tortillas I couldn’t make them fast enough for him.

Mariah – Aunt
Jerrin was a jokester — always flipping breakers on me or squirting water at me and my son Emmitt. One time at the lake, he threw a dead fish on me. I was soooooo mad, but he was laughing so hard I couldn’t help but smile. I remember when he was little, I had to cooked him eggs and chorizo every single morning. He was my go to….always had my back.

Jesse – Uncle
I taught Jerrin how to shoot a shotgun and clean birds while dove hunting. He never backed down from a challenge. He was also a natural when I put a bow and arrow in his hands. We used to watch The Three Stooges, but once he and Jayden started poking each other in the eyes, we had to stop watching. He was always all-in no matter what he was doing.

Whitney – Aunt
This boy absolutely loved biscuits with Karo syrup and peanut butter, he would eat it every morning if I made it for him. He really could put away some food. Every year on his birthday he wanted homemade pizza instead of cake….so we’d stick candles in it and sing to him. And every single Thanksgiving he’d come dancing into the kitchen excited about the food. He was a foodie and everyone knew it. He loved animals — I once found my dog Kosmo in his bunk bed with him….he had carried him up there with him. I’d ask him to bathe him and you could hear Jerrin laughing when Kosmo shook. He was so gentle with him. He always wanted to know what I was doing would literally follow me around the house as a personal shadow— so curious, and so nosy in the best way. He’d want to do face masks with me anytime I did them which made me giggle. When I had to go to the ER for some gnarly kidney stones, he would NOT leave my side. He had to be dragged away and was not happy about it. He had ambition, humor, and the biggest heart that he tried and failed to hide.

Forever in Our Hearts

Jerrin was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of soul — the kind that comes into your world, changes it for the better, and leaves you with more love than you thought possible. He made us laugh, he made us feel safe, and he reminded us what it means to love without limits. His body may be gone, but his spirit, his stories, and his love live on in every one of us.

We will carry him with us always.

Jerrin Lee Hernandez: One of God’s Favorites

September 17, 2007– December 21, 2023

Reflections from Those Who Loved Him

Forever in Our Hearts

Links

Hours

Location