Gentleman, witty, loyal, mischievous, devoted
DJ Walters was known for the way he carried himself—he believed in chivalry, being a gentleman, and in small gestures that mattered. He was also known for his charm, his signature grin, and his one-hundred-watt smile. When meeting a girlfriend’s mother or grandmother, he would show up with flowers and a pressed button-down shirt. It was simply who he was.
“Ever since he could walk, he was playing a sport,” his sister, Kimber said. At Mount Anthony Union High School, he stood out for his athletic ability, competitiveness, and drive. Though he was intelligent and capable, he hated the confines of a classroom and left school before graduating.
Family was central to DJ’s life. He grew up surrounded by a large extended family. He was especially close to his cousin, Derrick. Though he and Kimber fought non-stop, they grew closer later in DJ’s life and confided in each other. It was common for DJ to show up at someone’s home, sit on the porch and talk for hours with coffee and cigarette in hand. He also loved to dance, be outdoors, camp, and plan elaborate pranks. Quick-witted and funny, DJ was often the first to deliver a perfectly timed comeback.
For DJ’s tenth birthday—a big, loud, family gathering with dozens of cousins—his mom splurged on a Steelers-themed football field cake. The moment the group finished singing, DJ, and cousins Derrick, Matt, and Dennis dove in, smashing the cake and staging a full-on food fight while the adults shouted and DJ’s sister ran off in tears. The chaos became one of the family’s favorite stories still told today.
His quick thinking and cleverness showed up in other ways as well. DJ’s childhood included trauma that sometimes resulted in anger or restlessness. So, his mother took him to see a therapist. After fighting him all the way there one day, his mom finally said, “If you can figure out a way to get out of it, you don’t have to go.” Less than five minutes into the appointment, the therapist came out, offered condolences for the “loss” of DJ’s grandmother and suggested rescheduling. Embarrassed and confused, his mom rushed DJ to the car and asked what had happened. He said, “You told me if I could figure out a way to get out of therapy, I didn’t have to go—so I told him your mother died.”
DJ found purpose working alongside his father, Seth, uncles, and cousins in the family tree business and sometimes built homes. Though he spent much of his adult life in jail, DJ earned his GED and talked about going to college to become an architect.
DJ cared deeply about family and wanted to be a husband and a father. He formed close bonds with the children in his life, including the twin girls of a partner, and took those relationships seriously.
DJ lived with substance use disorder from a young age, as did other members of the family. The one time he asked for help at an emergency room, help was not given, which should never happen.
Kimber is now an advocate for those with substance use disorder. Her own addiction and experience with DJ led her to work with SafeSpot, a virtual overdose prevention hotline. She says: “The work has taught me that there is room for humanity, humor, and connection even in really heavy spaces.”
Kimber misses laughing with DJ and remembers him as protective, funny, and constant. “I find myself grieving the future he never got to create.”
DJ’s sister, Kimber King, provided the information for this narrative.
April 8, 1984–August 20, 2008-Age 24
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
