My stepdad, Derrick (aka Dee), passed away recently, and our family is trying to make sure he is laid to rest before the end of the year.

Dee passed at the age of 58 after fighting stage 4 cancer. He was with my mom for 25 years and became a constant, loving presence in our family. He had a big personality—he loved to joke around, dance, and hype people up. He was a family man and a hustler in the truest sense, always finding a way to keep things moving and spirits high, even when things were hard.

His life insurance covers the funeral service itself, but it does not cover the cemetery costs or a grave marker. These expenses must be paid in order for his burial to take place, and we are on a very tight timeline. Everything needs to be settled by December 28th.

Our family is pooling together what we can, but with the holidays here, it’s been hard to raise the remaining funds so quickly. My mom is managing as best she can, and my aunt and I are handling the funeral planning in hopes of taking as much of this burden off her as possible.

The full goal is $6,500. Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward cemetery fees and burial-related expenses. If you’re unable to give, sharing this or keeping our family in your thoughts means so much.

Thank you for reading and for supporting us during such a heavy time.