Virginia – Fall 2021

Loving, kind, helpful, funny, smart When Jesse was young, he loved being outside, playing basketball, riding four-wheelers, fishing, and spending time with friends. He was also a big Steelers fan. He and his younger brother, Cody, were best friends, and sometimes rivals. Cody and Jesse loved to cook together, something they learned sitting on the counter, watching their dad, who passed away in 2018. [...]

Beautiful, loved, adventurous, smart, precious Nick was a beautiful old soul with insightful views on life. He was incredibly smart and talented, with a knack for computers, music and all things creative. He loved the outdoors and was full of wonder and joy for plants and creatures of all kinds. Nick was a loyal friend and brother and deeply loved by everyone he met. His family has heard many stories about how much he meant to others.[...]

Challenging, adventurous, deep thinker, the most loving person known When not using drugs, Phil was the most loving, fun, kind, caring, and selfless person. He helped others before himself and always kept a room laughing. He supported others in their struggles and truly wanted to find a way out of his substance use disorder. Phil was an outstanding lacrosse and soccer player who loved exploring the woods, being in nature, and had a love for animals and children.[...]

Very loving, funny, creative, heartbreaking “My son was a loving, caring person with the biggest heart,” said Mitchell’s mom, Sandra. He always had a joke ready and loved to laugh. In pictures, he was the one to throw out a peace sign gesture, wave, or hold something random up to the camera to make people smile. “There was something magical about him,” his mother said.[...]

Mature, insightful, sensitive, kind, strong As the oldest of six children, Jacob took responsibility for others early in life. He was a great help to his mother and adored by his siblings, Isaac, David, Miriam, Zvenah, Noah, and his many cousins. He could befriend anyone, unify people, and reached out to those needing help.[...]

Fun-loving, exciting, creative, intuitive, caring From a young age, Brogan was adventurous and mischievous. He was great entertainment and could also be challenging at times, like when he fell in the creek and grandma had to fish him out, or when he was two and took off through the neighborhood and had to be tracked down. Or the time they were on vacation and his parents woke up to find Brogan on the beach fishing with an adult they didn’t know. One time they couldn’t find him and later found him asleep in the back of his dad’s truck. “If he wanted to do something, he just did it without telling us,” his mom said. He also liked to take things and hide them. The family used to say, “if you can’t find something, it is under Brogan’s bed.”[...]

The funniest, most caring, loving, and artistic soul ever. Best friend to all. Dane was an amazing, kind, and caring soul. He was a loving son, brother, father, and boyfriend and quickly became a treasured friend to everyone he met. He was generous to all and helped others to feel and do better. Dane was passionate about nature, art, and especially his family. He loved animals and bird watching and taught what he knew to his two brothers, Randy and Mitchell. The brothers were close and loved to get together to cook, laugh, and create new dishes. “Losing Dane was especially hard for his brothers. He was their leader and mentor,” his mom, Cheryl, stated.[...]

Genuine, kind, funny, reserved, a life too short Clark was genuine, kind-hearted, soft-spoken, and a skilled listener. He talked with people about their interests, not his own, and made those he encountered feel important. Clark enjoyed the outdoors, guns, and time with family and friends; he liked taking things slow and savoring experiences. He enjoyed spending time with his dog Kemper and loved watching football, especially NC State. [...]

Bright, beautiful, loving, funny, charming Julia was vibrant, intelligent, loving and charming with a dash of sarcasm. She was passionate about food and cooking, saving animals, and had an interest in make-up. She attended an alternative high school completing four years in just four months and planned to go to the local Community College. Julia was working at the front desk of a gym when a member, who was a photographer, asked to collaborate with her for modeling. She was an amazing young woman living life her way, full of love and hope.[...]

Loving, giving, funny, intelligent, compassionate Jamie was a happy, loving, and giving person. He was funny, compassionate, and lived life on his own terms. He was known for his big heart and willingness to help others no matter the situation. He loved reading anything about the Universe, galaxies, stars, and space and was into vitamins, working out, and keeping journals. [...]

Fun, easy-going, compassionate friend The second of four boys that included his brothers Ryan, Jacob, and Joshua, Joseph was a friend to everyone, especially those not accepted by others. He was creative and spent time sketching, making funny movies, and drawing intricate robots and imaginary creatures. Joe loved doing anything outdoors; hiking, fishing, camping, and exploring the woods were his favorites. He was great with animals and often brought home baby bunnies, birds that fell out of their nests, and especially snakes. His mom, Dee, said he was a “great snake wrangler.” [...]

A pure and innocent heart Kathrine was a free spirit, loved by everyone who knew her. She had a beautiful singing voice and competed in voice competitions while in high school. Her biggest joy in life was travel, she visited many countries in her short life and made the most of each and every destination. Her major talent and her legacy was her ability to make everyone feel valued and included. She always stuck up for kids who were bullied and had tremendous empathy for everyone. [...]

Never quit. Cary was “crazy in the best possible way,” according to his girlfriend, Ameena. He pushed personal limits, tried new things, was ambitious, motivated, incredibly talented, and humble. “He put 200% of himself into everything he did,” she said. Inspired by the statues of Greek gods during a childhood trip to Greece, he successfully transformed his average 160lb body to 200lbs of pure muscle and fitness and became a certified personal trainer, champion bodybuilder, and all around “athletic beast.” Cary completed the Marine Corps Half Marathon and set his sights on preparing to become a Navy SEAL. He traveled an hour to Annapolis at 5 am each morning to train with a former SEAL and a special ops instructor. [...]

Bright light, caring, kind, loving Beautiful, struggling lost soul, who deserved better Jenna’s dad, Dave, described her as a bright light with a carefree attitude, always laughing, having a good time, and enjoying life. She cared about people and “she had their back all the way; people were drawn to her,” he said. Her mom Belynda added, “She loved the beach, winging her eyeliner, cats, tattoos, and music.” ‘We shared a special and unbreakable bond.’[...]

Beloved, gifted, humble, witty, tragic We lost a most beautiful soul. Taylor never met a stranger and was a kindred soul to all. He loved creating art, lifting anyone who was feeling down, swimming, music, and playing the drums. He also liked skate and longboarding, cars, motorsports, animals and was good with children. And he gave the best hugs ever. [...]

Always striving, sweet, privileged, incomplete Brendan was sweet, compassionate, and caring. He loved animals, especially his dog Emma and cat, Hollywood. Emma and Brendan would walk to the water where Brendan would feed the ducks, practice his golf swing, and spend time in reflection. He was well-mannered and respectful of his elders. He had an interest in all genres of music and planned to work in the music industry. Brendan’s dad taught him how to play golf and they enjoyed sharing time on the golf course together. He and his dad competed in and won several father/son golf tournaments. [...]

Charming, kind, smart, fair, loved Cullen was funny, kind, and fun-loving with a deep sense of fairness that he often displayed when standing up for the underdog. He had a wide variety of friends from all walks of life and was best friends with his older brother William. He loved fishing, music, cooking, pretty girls, animals, family, and the Washington Redskins! [...]

Compassionate, brave, humorous, protective, tragic Sean’s young life ended tragically from a pill laced with fentanyl. Sean had experienced many obstacles in his short life. He was diagnosed with ADHD at age four and often reprimanded in school. His parents divorced when he was eleven and he witnessed his father’s substance use. At 16 he was sent to Montana for substance abuse treatment and by 17 saw a friend die. Sean was in and out of the juvenile system and as an adult was incarcerated for stealing marijuana. For many years he believed this would be his path in life, but in July 2020 he expressed to his mom it wasn’t the life for him. He wanted something better, and he wanted help. [...]

Loving, handsome, caring, giving, adventurous Devon was a kind, caring, giving person, an easy-going child, and an amazing older brother to his younger sister, Hannah. He was a daredevil, always up for new adventures, and loved to keep people laughing. Devon spent his free time outdoors at Lake Anna, fishing, on a jet ski or a boat. He also loved hiking in the woods or mountains. His birthdays were always a day all about him and since he was a St. Patrick’s Day baby, all the decorations were green. [...]

Godly, altruistic, philanthropist, selfless, eccedentesiast From the moment Troy was born, there was something godly and different about him. He was raised in the church, had a great childhood, a wonderful brother, Adam, who good-naturedly pranked him, and parents who loved him. Troy was a kind and giving soul, always putting people before himself. He was handsome, popular, and inclusive. He would often lunch with people with special needs or students who were marginalized by others, so they weren’t sitting by themselves.[...]

Fun, funny, caring, and beloved Troy was the light in the room and a catalyst for fun. He was a warm, compassionate, and loving person who never met a stranger. He wore his heart on his sleeve, was a skilled listener, and a fiercely loyal friend. “Troy also had a great bullshit detector,” his mom said, ‘and no tolerance for mean people.’ He was a leader from his earliest days – regardless of the direction, though as he matured, he led forward. [...]

Bright, creative, fun-loving, with an infectious laugh Ben was full of life. He was compassionate, kind, and fun to be around. His mother, Libby said, “He was a wonderful son and a bright light in everyone’s life; he was loved by all who knew him.” Ben enjoyed swimming, guitar, photography, drawing, and living life to the fullest. He loved the outdoors and liked to spend time in the water, whether it be the ocean or a pool. [...]

Loving, sweet, funny, handsome, charming Robert was smart, funny, athletic, and outgoing and enjoyed meeting new people. As a child, he had the confidence to walk up to a woman in a store and say, “Excuse me, I just wanted to tell you I think you’re beautiful.” Of course, he got a positive response, and she thought he was charming. He also loved cats, dogs, and singing and dancing to music on the radio. He played baseball and football and loved watching NFL, NBA, and MLB games on television. [...]

Kind, sensitive, needed more time Dawson was kind and sensitive, with a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He loved animals, especially his rescue dog, Burly. He was extremely intelligent, was an honor roll student, a member of the National Honor Society and a college graduate. Dawson was extremely athletic; he played golf and tennis in high school and was a graceful snowboarder and long boarder. He loved the beach and the mountains, was drawn to dogs, kids, and people in need. [...]

Loving, kind, beautiful, funny, thoughtful Initially, Bash was afraid of the ocean, but once he got on a surfboard at 12, he couldn’t be stopped. Since his family lived in Virginia Beach, he could surf every day in the summer. It was where he felt free and unencumbered by any worries. One treasured memory was meeting two surfing pros in a restaurant. They sat at his table, talked with him, and autographed a white cloth napkin. He was blown away! His mom still has this prized possession. Bash taught his nephew A.J. how to skateboard, and loved outdoor activities, but not the bugs! [...]

Honest, authentic, vulnerable, brave, LOVED “Taylor was a bright light in this world,” his mother, Kerri, stated. He was an honor student, a born leader, and loved sports, especially basketball, golf, and tennis. He had a heart for children and never met a dog he didn’t love. Being sensitive, he felt deeply. “He was the big personality in the family,” his dad, Taylor Sr. said. [...]

Kind, smart, creative, fun, affectionate William was an affectionate, funny, hardworking, and vibrant human being. He and his brother Paul were a team and shared many adventures while growing up together; William was always proud of Paul. William had a special ability to love people unconditionally and made his three daughters, Elizabeth, Becca, and Emilie, now 20, 15, and 14, his top priority. [...]

Unapologetically herself, musical, lightning, passionate, epic Sarah was a force of nature who left a lasting impression on every life that she touched. She had a charismatic personality, superior musical talent, and a compassionate heart. She was a luminous presence on stage, on the field in the band, and brightened people’s lives with her powerful voice, dimpled smile, and contagious laughter. Sarah adored her siblings Liliana,14, and Miles, 4, and could bring people together whether it be through cooking, outdoor adventures, or playing guitar at gatherings. Her mother described her as “epic.” [...]

If only I could talk…. When Jeff was growing up in Findlay, Ohio, his parents, Mark and Colleen, noticed that he had a difficult time functioning in social situations. He couldn’t look people in the eye or pick up on social cues. They questioned his pediatrician and other mental health experts, all of whom said it was social anxiety or ADD. Jeff had a good connection with his best friend, Alex. Their community was small, neighbors were like family, and Jeff functioned well in that environment. Everything changed though when a job opportunity moved the family to Virginia when Jeff was thirteen. [...]

Compassionate, realist, intentional, loved his family, didn’t hold a grudge As a kid, Daryl had a lot of energy and channeled it productively through his involvement in wrestling, soccer, and basketball. He was a daredevil and a free spirit with a heart of gold who believed in giving second chances. After his daughter, Bella, now 10, fishing was his life. He spent every free minute fishing and when not doing it; he was talking about it. [...]

Fun-loving, romantic, beautiful, brave, creative Celeste sparkled! She was fun-loving, romantic, caring, and sentimental. Celeste was a natural beauty, with a smile that could melt you like butter. Known as CeCe to her friends, she was kind, compassionate, and accepting of everyone. She was daring, brave, and authentic. CeCe was a thrill-seeker; she loved riding roller coasters and going to adventure parks. She took part in Rugged Manic, an epic obstacle course and festival where adults can have a day of fun and challenge themselves. She had a passion and talent for painting and was very creative. [...]