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.
When Jamie was younger, he was an all-star in soccer, an MVP in Dek Hockey, and throughout his life loved the Capital’s Hockey team, it was even the theme for his Celebration of Life service. Jamie was protective of his younger siblings, Ashley and Zachary; he and his brother often had friends over to watch the games in Jamie’s basement bedroom. The family spent a month each summer at their home on Fenwick Island where they enjoyed the beach, go-karting, and strolling through the shops on the Boardwalk.
Jamie was intelligent and capable of doing anything he had an interest in. He was great with computers and was taking AP computer classes in high school and was his mom’s go-to tech guy. When he was 16, everything suddenly changed.
Jamie was cutting through the woods on his way home from the pet store where he bought a mouse for his pet snake when he was accosted by a man with a gun, robbed, and shot. His heart stopped three times during surgery. His mom, Deborah said: “We were lucky he survived and thought that was the worst thing that could ever happen, but after a month in the hospital he came home addicted to drugs. Because of the shooting, Jamie didn’t finish high school, but did get his GED and worked as a busboy, barback, and a cook. He took some classes at NOVA but didn’t complete his degree. His mom stated: “His addiction affected everything he did.”
The funny, loving boy could get angry and mean when going through withdrawals. “He wasn’t my Jamie,” his mom said, “he always wrote me notes apologizing for his behavior and said that he hated being that way.” Jamie had goals for his life, like going to college, getting married, and having children. He was always praised for his hard work and abilities, but ultimately the addiction got in the way of his goals and success.
There are endless stories of how Jamie helped other people. When a friend went to jail, Jamie wrote to him, sent puzzles and pictures, and put money on his account. Those he met in rehab talked about what a good influence he was in their recovery. Another friend said that whenever he went out of town for vacation or work, he would come home to find that Jamie had mowed his lawn. His mom said: “Jamie’s biggest accomplishment in life is how he touched the lives of others.”
Deborah stated: I’ve never been ashamed of Jamie’s drug addiction, he never wanted to be addicted to drugs. I never gave up on him, I always thought that one day it would end, but not the way it did. I was scared he would be arrested, get in an accident, or even overdose and be in the hospital, but I still thought I would be able to bring him home. I just wish I could have helped him.” She misses his voice, his laugh, his hugs, and the little skip in his walk when he was happy. “I miss everything, good or bad,” his mom said. ‘I love my son more every day, I talk with him, I still look for him, I watch Capital’s games with him; I will do anything to keep my son’s memory alive.”
Jamie’s mother, Deborah Evans, provided the information for this narrative.
November 13, 1985-March 19, 2020
Age 34-Lived with the disease of addiction 18 years
