Charming, intelligent, funny, honest, loving
At 6’1 and 165lbs, Josh stood as tall as an oak and his personality was just as unwavering. Always present and ready to help his friends, he expected only a smile in return. An all “A” student, Josh’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) helped him to do a deep dive into anything in which he had an interest. “He could do math in his head and tell you everything about many bands, (Pink Floyd was his favorite,) including details about the story behind the song and when it was written,” his mom, Angie, shared.
From the sixth grade, Josh was home schooled through a faith-based curriculum. In addition to his academic studies, learning the Bible meant a lot to him. An honor roll student, his mom proudly accompanied him to awards banquets to receive academic awards.
Working as a merchandiser for Lowe’s and Home Depot was one of Josh’s first jobs. Later, he worked with a construction company, building schools and colleges. A collector of knives, his favorite job was as a meat cutter where he utilized his knife skills cutting meat.
Josh and his younger brother Justin loved to heckle each other about sports. They were a “house divided” with Josh–an Alabama fan, and Justin rooting for Auburn. Josh’s friend Brandon was as close as a brother, even calling Angie, “mom.” The two men were jokesters together.
Josh’s greatest joy and passion was his son, Phoenix Orien Ezell, his only child. He was named, so his initials spelled out Josh’s favorite poet-Edgar Allen Poe. Josh could be found with Phoenix on the floor during tummy time, and as he grew, outside teaching him about nature. Leaning against an oak tree, with his dad, Phoenix learned about the life cycle of the acorn, where it came from, the animals who ate acorns and how the oak trees started. Josh told his mom that Phoenix was his biggest accomplishment in life and his greatest love. Eight when his dad passed away, Phoenix is now 15. “It is like looking in a mirror at Josh when he was that age,” Josh’s mom stated.
Josh wanted a simple life, a family, and a home near the water so he and Phoenix could fish or camp. He wanted to pass on his love and knowledge of the outdoors from what he learned as a child.
Regardless of his age, Josh was a mama’s boy. Never wanting his mom to worry, he would come to her bedroom at night and say “Mama, I’m home, I love you.” To alleviate his mom’s worry, he once posted a picture on social media of him holding his mom’s dog in his lap during a storm when she wasn’t home to do it herself.
As his addiction went on, Josh seemed depressed, though sometimes louder and bolder. He retreated into his own world and felt excluded from things with the family. Angie and the rest of the family felt a sense of dread, not knowing if they would get the call saying he was gone. Before his death, he was drug free for two years, “but still fighting the stigma of addiction at every turn,” Angie said.
“I miss his mere existence,” Angie stated. I miss hearing him tell his friends they better not mess with him or “my mama will whoop you like she owns you.” “He was such a bright light. I miss his light. Seeing the world through his eyes is the most amazing adventure I have been on. He was the one to teach me what true love was all about.”
Joshua’s mother, Angie Cheshire, provided the information for this narrative.
November 23, 1983-July 21, 2017-Age 33
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
