02/24/2026
It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my brother, Mark.
Grief has a way of taking you back through time. I keep thinking about our childhood - walking to the penny candy store with change in our pockets, shooting BB guns in the woods, running through the neighborhoods of Leshdale like we owned the world. We played for hours on the playground at Summit Elementary, carefree and loud.
I think about us fighting at the top of the stairs one day, putting a hole in the wall… and then pushing a dresser in front of it, convinced Mom would never notice. (She noticed.)
I grew up with my two brothers, and those memories shaped me.
Mark wasn’t just my brother - he showed up for me. He bought me my first pair of name-brand shoes - blue ombré Nikes that I thought were the flyest things I had ever seen. When I turned 21, he traveled to be with me so that if I chose to have my first legal drink, it would be under his watchful eye. That was him - protective, present, intentional.
And he was an incredibly proud father.
You could see it in the way he carried himself when he talked about his children. They were his joy. His purpose. His greatest masterpieces. I pray that Markus, Mariah, MaKaylynn, Marcellus, and Epic grow up sharing the kind of sibling memories we were blessed to have - laughter, loyalty, mischief, and unconditional love.
When you go to God in prayer, please call their names out loud. Pray for Markus. Pray for Mariah. Pray for MaKaylynn. Pray for Marcellus. Pray for Epic. Cover them in strength, peace, protection, and comfort.
This loss is one I am carrying deeply.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has reached out - through calls, texts, messages, visits, prayers, and love. Please know that I have seen your communications, and they mean more than I can express right now. If I haven’t responded yet, I will endeavor to do so in a timely manner. Thank you for your patience and your grace as we navigate this difficult time.
Service arrangements will be forthcoming, and I will share details as soon as they are finalized.
Forever my brother. 🤍