SARASOTA, Fla. — A public service was held Saturday for a 14-year-old whose remains were found after he went missing for a year and a half.

Jabez Spann was laid to rest Saturday at Truvine Missionary Baptist Church in Sarasota.

Spann went missing on Labor Day weekend of 2017.

Police said his remains were found roughly two weeks ago in a rural area of Palmetto — more than fifteen miles from where he was last seen.

Spann's casket on Saturday was fixed with his football helmet and sweatshirt.

The teen was remembered by friends as a kind person, who wanted to include everyone. 

"I was picked on because I didn't really have a lot of clothes," said CJ Jackson, a close friend. "But Jabez was there. Every time someone picked on me, he was there. I wish I could say thank you." 

Jabez spent most of his time with his family and brothers. 

"He's gonna be so missed, he doesn't deserve this," his cousin Sasha said, through tears. 

His mother, Tawana, said she was ready to seek justice for her teen son.

"This wasn’t what we hoped for," she said. "We thought we were prepared, but I guess that's not … I guess that's not something you can get prepared for. We're going to move forward with the hopes that they can find whoever did this."

The family invited anyone who wanted to attend Saturday's service to be there.