Celebration of Life - Chief Steve Austin
Donation protected
Our friend, Steve, lost his life tragically in a hit and run on July 12th, 2020, leaving behind his mother and brothers who relied on him for so much. He was just 32 years old.
Steve was full of life. He gave his honest opinion at all times. His presence brought joy to so many people. His kindness was far-reaching. And even minutes before his death, he reached out to friends offering to buy them lunch. Steve was always willing to help. He was a great story-teller. Enough can't be said about him.
Steve was a loving son, a brother, and a friend who has been a source of income to his family since leaving Nigeria. Please help us raise money to send Steve's body back to his family in Nigeria and to support them during this difficult process of laying him to rest with his father and brother, who also passed away years ago.
Who you are and your relationship to the intended recipient(s) of your campaign's donations.
My name is Mohammed Jagun. I'm an Electrical Field Engineer for the Pacific Gas & Electric company in California. I met Steven three years ago at a restaurant called ECOWAS at the time. This restaurant is now called Naija Cuisine. Steven was on his way to get food from this restaurant when he was hit by a car. It was our favorite restaurant here in Sacramento because it served our traditional cuisine. Ever since then, we became best friends. We texted every day and hung out every weekend because we live about 8 minutes away. Saying that Steven was my friend will demote the relationship I had with him. Steven was my brother.
A detailed explanation of how the funds will be spent
Steven has no family here in the States. His mother and brothers are back in Nigeria and cannot pay for the costs associated with getting his body back home for burial. This was when Steven's friends here in Sacramento and I decided to create a GoFundMe to send steven back home and compensate his mother, who already had to bury her husband in 2007. At that time, her husband was the breadwinner of the family.
Fast-forward a year later, Steven's brother died, and his mother had to bury a son. No mother should have to bury a child. Now Steven is gone. And his mother will have to bury a second child.
When this sad incident happened, I felt it was my responsibility to get Steven back to his mother to see her son one last time.
So far, we have
Received an authorization form from his family to handle his body here in America.
Been in contact with the funeral home that will prepare his body for travel
Been in touch with the American and Nigerian consulate and are preparing all documents needed to get him back
brought awareness to this incident and have been interviewed by FOX40(a local station here in Sacramento)
Had a candlelight ceremony at the location of his death
Spoken to steven's mother and brothers. I have listened to them cry. I have cried with them, and I have laughed with them as we have all shared great memories about our brother.
After we pay for all the expenses related to getting him back, we will give the family the rest of the money. No amount of money can bring a child back from the dead. But we make sure that the mother is comfortable for as long as we, the friends, are alive.
Your plan for ensuring your campaign's donations reach their intended recipient(s).
Chuckwuma Ugbogu and I have created a Joint Account for Steven's funeral and travel cost expenses and family compensation. We will post pictures of Steven's service here in Sacramento, Flight pictures to Lagos Nigeria, and Owerri, Imo state. And photographs of his mother when she sees her son.
I have also attached pictures of Steven, Chuma, and I in this GoFundMe story.
Steve was full of life. He gave his honest opinion at all times. His presence brought joy to so many people. His kindness was far-reaching. And even minutes before his death, he reached out to friends offering to buy them lunch. Steve was always willing to help. He was a great story-teller. Enough can't be said about him.
Steve was a loving son, a brother, and a friend who has been a source of income to his family since leaving Nigeria. Please help us raise money to send Steve's body back to his family in Nigeria and to support them during this difficult process of laying him to rest with his father and brother, who also passed away years ago.
Who you are and your relationship to the intended recipient(s) of your campaign's donations.
My name is Mohammed Jagun. I'm an Electrical Field Engineer for the Pacific Gas & Electric company in California. I met Steven three years ago at a restaurant called ECOWAS at the time. This restaurant is now called Naija Cuisine. Steven was on his way to get food from this restaurant when he was hit by a car. It was our favorite restaurant here in Sacramento because it served our traditional cuisine. Ever since then, we became best friends. We texted every day and hung out every weekend because we live about 8 minutes away. Saying that Steven was my friend will demote the relationship I had with him. Steven was my brother.
A detailed explanation of how the funds will be spent
Steven has no family here in the States. His mother and brothers are back in Nigeria and cannot pay for the costs associated with getting his body back home for burial. This was when Steven's friends here in Sacramento and I decided to create a GoFundMe to send steven back home and compensate his mother, who already had to bury her husband in 2007. At that time, her husband was the breadwinner of the family.
Fast-forward a year later, Steven's brother died, and his mother had to bury a son. No mother should have to bury a child. Now Steven is gone. And his mother will have to bury a second child.
When this sad incident happened, I felt it was my responsibility to get Steven back to his mother to see her son one last time.
So far, we have
Received an authorization form from his family to handle his body here in America.
Been in contact with the funeral home that will prepare his body for travel
Been in touch with the American and Nigerian consulate and are preparing all documents needed to get him back
brought awareness to this incident and have been interviewed by FOX40(a local station here in Sacramento)
Had a candlelight ceremony at the location of his death
Spoken to steven's mother and brothers. I have listened to them cry. I have cried with them, and I have laughed with them as we have all shared great memories about our brother.
After we pay for all the expenses related to getting him back, we will give the family the rest of the money. No amount of money can bring a child back from the dead. But we make sure that the mother is comfortable for as long as we, the friends, are alive.
Your plan for ensuring your campaign's donations reach their intended recipient(s).
Chuckwuma Ugbogu and I have created a Joint Account for Steven's funeral and travel cost expenses and family compensation. We will post pictures of Steven's service here in Sacramento, Flight pictures to Lagos Nigeria, and Owerri, Imo state. And photographs of his mother when she sees her son.
I have also attached pictures of Steven, Chuma, and I in this GoFundMe story.
Organizer
Mohammed Jagun
Organizer
Rosemont, CA
