Mills' casket was adorned with flowers in his school colors of blue and gold and his No. 8 football jersey was displayed next to it in a glass case.

"To watch him on the playing field was poetic," the Rev. W.D. Sims said. "He desired to be the best of the best."

The service's speakers elaborated on why the young man's death was such a great loss because of his enormous potential and ambition to help others, especially his family.

They noted that his talent on the football field was exceeded by his friendliness, a sense of humility and a belief in God.

Sims mentioned Mills' list of goals, which the teen hung in his bedroom so that he would see it every day.

Next to each of his goals, which included helping his family, earning a good degree and entering the NFL's Hall of Fame, the teen had written: "With God's help, I can do anything."

"He has so much positive going on around him," Sims said.
Memories Shared

Several stepped up to a set of microphones to share memories of the teen.

Church choir member Alvin Hill met Mills when the two were in child day care, he said. They used to "trash talk" one another in jest on the phone before playing football for opposite teams.

They even fought a few times, but they always came out of it friends, Hill said.

"The people where I work almost told me that I couldn't come here today," he said. "I told them, 'That's fine. You can mail me my last paycheck.'

"You can always get another job," Hill said. "But you ain't never going to find anybody like C.J."

Jefferson junior quarterback Zach Grossi was among many players who wore their blue jerseys and acted as pallbearers for the funeral. The team has decided to honor the memory of their fallen linebacker by putting his name and number on their helmets.

"We're going to win, just like C.J. would have wanted us to," Grossi said.

Because of the sizable crowd, the recessional lasted nearly an hour as mourners passed the casket on their way out of the church.
Investigation Continues

Last week, Tampa police said they are looking for Mills' cell phone and a gold medallion missing since the shooting. Detectives also are searching for the two gunmen and their car.

Police described the cell phone as an LG Chocolate brand, white in color. The round religious medallion is about 1.5 inches in diameter and would have been worn on a necklace.

Two men wearing bandannas over their faces shot Mills and escaped in a newer model silver Chrysler Sebring with four doors and dark-tinted windows, police said. Witnesses initially said the car might have been light-green or gray, but police now say the car was silver.

The car's driver and passenger are described as black men, about 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 160 to 190 pounds. The driver is light-skinned, wore a ball cap and red bandanna, and carried a chrome handgun, police said. The passenger was of medium complexion, wore a black bandanna and had a black handgun.

Anyone with information about the men, the car or Mills' property should call police at (813) 231-6130.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 657-4534 or mwells@tampatrib.com.