Lil Poppa Funeral Set for March 7 in Jacksonville as Family and Fans Prepare
The lil poppa funeral has been scheduled for Saturday, March 7, in the rapper's hometown of Jacksonville, as family members and supporters gather after his death on Feb. 18. The timing matters because officials and the family have put public logistics in place for a large attendance, with security measures intended to enforce privacy and order.
Lil Poppa Funeral at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church
Funeral organizers will hold the public service at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, located at 1118 W. Beaver St., with the ceremony set to begin at 10 a. m. A flyer shared on social media states that phones, recording devices, Meta glasses and cameras will not be permitted; guests who fail to comply will be escorted out. Church pastor Harry Williams confirmed the arrangements and said an extremely large crowd is expected, prompting the heightened security posture.
Those details for the lil poppa funeral follow the rapper's death earlier this month. Janarious Mykel Wheeler, known professionally as Lil Poppa, died on Feb. 18 at age 25. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death a gunshot wound to the head and classified the manner of death as suicide.
Toie Roberts’ Public Tribute and Family Impact
Toie Roberts, the mother of Lil Poppa's son and daughter of rapper Rick Ross, has posted public reflections since his death. In an Instagram message, Roberts addressed Wheeler by his middle name and wrote about the pain of losing him and the challenges of raising their child without a father. She pushed back against online critics who blamed her for his passing and said the public did not see the full reality of their relationship.
Roberts framed the loss through the perspective of their son, writing that her child had lost a father and protector. Her posts referenced private family moments and the difficulty of explaining the death to their child; she also asserted that past disputes between the two were smaller than what they shared. The public statements underscore a defined human toll: one child will grow up without his father, and Roberts has signaled she will shoulder parenting responsibilities going forward.
Career Milestones, Audience Reach and Official Findings
Lil Poppa’s music career included a 2022 signing with Collective Music Group, the label associated with rapper Yo Gotti. He released songs that gained traction with listeners and projects that expanded his profile. At the time of his death, he had nearly one million followers on Instagram and more than 600, 000 monthly listeners on Spotify, figures that reflected a significant and engaged audience whose presence likely contributed to the expected turnout at the funeral.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office provided the official cause and manner of death, a determination that shapes both public understanding and next steps for the family. Because the medical examiner ruled the death a suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, the family proceeded with public funeral planning and imposed strict no-recording rules to preserve privacy during a highly charged event.
What makes this notable is the convergence of a rising public profile and a sudden, official determination about cause of death: an artist with substantial digital followings leaves behind a young child and a community seeking answers and closure. The announced March 7 service, the church’s location and the explicit security guidelines aim to balance public mourning with the family’s request for restraint.
For those attending, the address, start time and restrictions are concrete steps meant to manage an anticipated large crowd and to protect the family's wishes. The funeral will be the first organized public opportunity for fans, peers and family to pay their respects.
