I am writing this on behalf of our family to honor my little brother and best friend, Robert Deshawn Brown. On Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, our ancestors called my brother back home to rest.

Robert transitioned at the age of 33 and is survived by three beautiful sons and mothers, his eldest sister, younger brother, and younger sister, and a village of family and loved ones that is experiencing an immense amount of loss and grief at this time.

I am writing this as his big sister; however, this loss feels particularly painful for all of us. Robert was the rose that grew from the concrete. For anyone who has had the honor of experiencing Robert, you would know that he was a man of character and honor in spite of all the circumstances that he resisted. My brother, siblings, and I were raised in a single-parent household all over the greater Los Angeles area, moving multiple times in our childhood. Our mom was hardworking and did her best to keep us in a safe environment to protect us.But addiction and mental illness made her walk away when Robert was just 13. This was an impact and a deep wound for all of her children.

We became resilient to systemic violence, family separation, and incarceration. The aunts and uncles tried to step in to support however they could and we are grateful for that. Regardless of the harsh circumstances, he was a soft place to land for people who were cut from the same cloth. He celebrated our wins even when he was not given the same opportunities. He was genuinely happy for us and cheered us on. And he has his own wins that we celebrated with him. He cared and loved his children deeply and had a special bond with each of them. He would take them on car rides, share music with them, and celebrate their birthdays at Chuck-E-Cheese. Robert loved taking them to the park, and he found fulfilment watching them every day and being present. Everything he did was for his children; he lived for his children, and they were his world.

We are currently raising funds for the ceremony that will honor and celebrate his life and the impact on the people who loved him. My brother would want to continue to provide for his three children, and without him being here, there will be a greater financial and emotional hardship for his family. The funds will go directly to the costs of the ceremony, which is costing more than $20,000 for the services and other expenses related to his services, and excess funds for his three children and their mothers.

For the sake of community accountability and transparency, this is the only GoFundMe that his family has started.

Im also encouraging the support of Mend Collaborative, a non profit that acknowledges the harm of others while holding space for and understanding the harm that people do to others to break cycles and encourage HEALING. We MUST hold each other, it’s a collective effort

https://mendcollaborative.org

Thank you so much for supporting my family during this difficult time.

In community,