On November 10, 2017, my cousin Devin was taken from not just the world but his family. He was shot and killed while being robbed that day. He was very articulate and had a love for life in a way that most people spent their whole lives trying to find. He didn’t have to find it; it was already there inside him. Family was one of the most important things to Devin. He had a rough childhood, which made him appreciate life a lot more than normal young adults his age. He was never one to take anything for granted. Devin always made sure the people around him were taken cared of. If it was raining and you forgot a jacket, he would give you the one off his back.
One of the things I appreciated the most from him was how he took my oldest son under his wing and helped guide him through a tough time in his own life. Devin was known for his music. Without too many details, my oldest son took an interest in music as well and was really coming down on himself because he felt like he wasn’t good enough, and his attitude about himself was starting to reflect in school and at home. Devin was so quick to show him and remind him that it doesn’t matter what he does in life, he is always good enough for any and everything. He quickly turned into a big brother. Devin knew what it felt like to not have anyone in his corner at one point in his life and made sure those in his life never felt like that. Between work and school and kids we always found time to check in with each other. He went from being a little 2 year old running around in a diaper and always by my side to growing up and being a strong, handsome young man who was one of my best friends and always by my side. A little brother. I knew that it didn’t matter what time of the day it was or what I was going through, he was always going to be there. That night when I got that call that he had been killed, I was immediately lost. I had lost my go-to person, my best friend. My son had lost someone he looked up to as an older brother. A part of me left with him that night he died, and I will never get that back.