❤️ In Loving Memory of DeShawn — Let’s Take Care of One of Our Own
He spent his life being there for others. Now, it’s our turn to be there for his family.
It’s hard to find the right words when someone who meant so much to so many is suddenly gone. Sometimes, all we can do is come together, love one another, and try to make a difficult time a little easier for the people left behind.
DeShawn was more than a first responder. He was a friend, a coworker, and someone who knew how to make people laugh. He was always cutting up, joking around, and bringing laughter to the people around him. Those are the kinds of memories that stick with you — the jokes, the laughs, the moments when someone could turn an ordinary day into a better one just by being themselves.
For those who work in EMS and emergency services, life is not always easy. First responders show up on people’s worst days. They witness heartbreak, tragedy, and things that most people will never have to experience. They carry responsibilities and emotional burdens that aren’t always visible to the people around them.
Yet behind every uniform is a human being. Someone who deserves to be checked on, listened to, supported, and reminded that they matter, too.
The heartbreaking reality of suicide among first responders is something we cannot continue to ignore. Too many people in this line of work struggle silently while feeling the pressure to stay strong for everyone else. We need to do better at talking about mental health, breaking the stigma around asking for help, and reminding our first responders that they don’t have to carry their burdens alone.
We may not always know what someone is going through, which is why checking in matters. A conversation matters. A little laughter matters. Letting someone know they are loved and that their life matters can make a difference.
As we remember DeShawn, our hearts are especially with his wife. Losing someone you love changes everything, and no family should have to face the emotional and financial weight of such a loss without support.
We are organizing this fundraiser to help with DeShawn’s funeral and memorial expenses and to provide financial support for his wife as she faces the difficult days ahead. We cannot take away her pain, but we can come together to help ease some of the burdens she now carries.
Whether you knew DeShawn personally, worked alongside him, shared a laugh with him, or simply want to support the family of someone who served others, we ask you to consider donating or sharing this fundraiser. Every contribution, no matter the amount, is a reminder that his family is not alone.
If you knew DeShawn, please share a memory, a funny story, or a moment when he made you laugh. Let’s fill this space with reminders of the person he was and the laughter he brought into the lives of others.
And to our fellow first responders: please check on one another. Even the person cracking jokes and making everybody else laugh may need someone to ask how they’re really doing. You are more than your uniform, more than your job, and more than the difficult things you’ve witnessed. Your life matters, and you deserve support, too.
DeShawn, your laughter and the memories you’ve left behind will live on in the people who knew and loved you.
To everyone who donates, shares, sends prayers, or reaches out to his family, thank you. Your kindness means more than words can express.
Let’s come together, honor DeShawn’s memory, and take care of one of our own. ❤️
