'We have to take over.’ Cease Fire Indy founder Ron Gee's children continue his legacy

INDIANAPOLIS — To the rest of the city, he was a legend. A community staple whose life left an impact on the people he helped and whose legacy created waves of change against gun violence in Indianapolis.

But to them, he was dad.

Ronald Gilmore Frieson, Sr., known famously as Ron Gee, would say his biggest legacy is in the form of three young people - Renee Frieson, 18, his namesake, Ronald Frieson Jr., 19 and Asharia Frieson, 20.

"Now that he's gone, I feel like I have to go harder," Renee Frieson said. "I have more responsibilities now with Cease Fire. Me and my siblings. We have to take over. It's not fair that somebody like him just wanted to stop gun violence and make the world a better place and he gets taken by the very thing he wanted to end."

The teen, who is heading to college, said keeping Cease Fire Indy going will be a top priority.

Ron Gee founded Cease Fire Indy, a nonprofit focused on ending gun violence, after losing so many friends. He spent nearly a decade trying to combat the very thing that would end his life on July 18, 2024.

Ron Gee dead at 39: Anti-violence activist Ron Gee fatally shot on Indianapolis' east side

For more than five hours on that Thursday, his family stood at the edge of the yellow boundary tape put up by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police as law enforcement conducted their homicide investigation in front of the Citgo gas station on East 38th Street and Arlington Avenue.

Tears flowed from over a dozen family members gathered including the three siblings.

"That man was great," Ronald Frieson, Jr. said. "Growing up my mom used to tell me, 'Get dressed. Your father's coming,' and I would be so happy because I knew every time I was either going to learn something or have fun. Usually it was both."

Since his father's death, Ronald Frieson Jr. said he's had dreams of memories he shared with his dad. He and his siblings are banning together to get through this loss.

"As a Black man, you always hear like nobody ever had their father," Frieson said. "I did."

To the rest of the city, Ron Gee was a prominent community leader.

To his children, he was a man who passed down life lessons and whose example they were able to follow growing up. They experienced a different Ron Gee than the one most notable to the city.

"When we were younger, he didn't have a car for a really long time, but he always made a way," Renee Frieson said. "We come from a family that doesn't come from a lot. We were always hopping on the bus together making moves doing what we needed to do. I would sit and play on his phone while he mowed people's yard. He'd go around asking people if he could mow their yard for however much."

It was those humble beginnings that the teen remembers most. Whether he was mowing lawns, doing personal shopping for Instacart, renting out rooms for people in a home, Frieson said Ron Gee's mantra was "If there is a will, there is a way," even if you didn't have a traditional job.

He also taught her how important it is to take care of other people in your community. This type of servant leadership is what led him to grow his reach around the city.

"He had different seats at different tables," Frieson said. "From the low end of the table to the higher end. My dad knows the mayor. When you look and see where he's from, you'd be surprised at what he's done."

The siblings are also helping out at 1313 Eatery , the restaurant created by Ron Gee and his brother that they now have stake in.

Whitney Frieson, Ron Gee's little sister, said Ron Gee was always the type of brother you could count on.

"He was there, cause I'm baby sis," Whitney Frieson said. "He's going to ride for me. Anytime I needed him, he was one call away. He was a great father. We're still shocked in this grieving process. Especially with social media, because he was big on social media."

Anytime they open their apps or social media platforms, they see Ron Gee. That's how much of an impact he had.

"I'm trying to be strong for my nieces and nephews right now," Frieson said. "So, we're asking everybody that believes in God, or a god, to keep us in their prayers because this is about to be a long journey for us. Since he had three kids and one that's named after him, his legacy is definitely going to continue."

Renee Frieson said she hopes someone comes forward with information on her father’s death.

"Even though somebody took my father from me, it's a lot of pain I'm going through, but I really hope whoever did this comes and confesses," Renee Frieson said. "Find God. You were wrong. It's sad. You took somebody from us. He has kids, he has family. He has grandkids he hasn't even met yet cause we're all young and we still have our whole lives to live.”

Contact Jade Jackson at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'We have to take over.’ Cease Fire Indy founder Ron Gee's children continue his legacy