FAIRBURN—Although there was a casket, music and a pastor—Bishop Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church—it wasn’t your usual funeral. For one, it was held at school. And secondly, there was no body buried. Instead, some 3,000 students at Creekside High School symbolically buried their past mistakes so they could take control of their lives.

Dubbed “Operation Takeback,” the Feb. 19 mock funeral was organized by Creekside High seniors Cassandra Allen, Deon Jones and Kamaron Leach. The students invited Bishop Long to provide the eulogy.

“Say goodbye to the negative forces that are hindering your life,” Bishop Long told the students. ”Bring it forth, put it in the casket and a transformation will happen. You will walk away from your troubles more powerful than you were before.”

Prior to the funeral, Bear Creek Middle and Creekside High students were asked to write letters about the painful experiences and barriers that have hampered their personal and academic progress.

Jones, who is president of Creekside’s Student Government Association and who has won a scholarship to attend Yale University in the fall, said that he wants to leave Creekside knowing that he helped the school to thrive.

“We need to let the students know that through rape, abuse on all levels, bad leadership in the school and other struggles, they are the future and can succeed,” Jones said.

Bishop Long, the author of a new book titled, “60 Seconds to Greatness,” stressed the importance of education, personal responsibility and celebrating life. He told the students to “Stop blaming your situation on somebody else. It’s your responsibility to take control of your life.”

Music producer Kevin “Khao” Cates and a student choir performed at the school event, and there were remarks by Creekside Principal Kevin Robinson, civil rights leaders and others.

The students’ mentor Dr. Eddie Morris, a social worker at Bear Creek Middle School spearheaded a similar program at Fulton County’s Banneker High School in 2008. “We must instill hope to an impoverished community and try to inspire the kids so they can achieve academically,” Morris said. “Without hope, the village can’t thrive.”