In Loving Memory of Jerrell Lathan Jr.

It is with a broken heart that I share the passing of My father Jerrell Lathan Jr. My father was a man whose presence will continue to live with people long after his passing. To many, he was like a brother; someone who showed up, stuck around and always kept it solid.

The amount of love and support pouring in from everywhere speaks volumes. I appreciate everyone who reached out, showed love, and made posts; along with those who shed their tears in private. People remembering growing up with him, learning from him, laughing with him, and leaning on him during some of their hardest moments has helped me stay strong throughout this impossible process. His character was something everyone especially I admired. He was someone who gave guidance, encouragement, and strength in the darkest of moments. Through everything my father carried himself with heart, loyalty, and a sense of humor that brought comfort and laughter to everyone around him. His energy was unmatched, he always managed to keep pushing himself and others forward.

My father fought hard through the health issues he faced, and even in that time, he continued to impact people in ways that meant everything to them, which in turn meant everything to him. He loved deeply, especially his family, children, and Christmas—his favorite holiday. It will forever feel different without him here.

My father’s strength was something he proved time and time again. During his freshman year of college, he battled cancer and fought through it until he came out victorious. Years later, complications from the chemotherapy affected his heart, eventually leading to open heart surgery and a replacement artery. A few years after that, he suffered a stroke that left the left side of his body paralyzed, leaving him partially wheelchair bound. Not long after, he was placed on dialysis to keep his kidneys functioning. Despite everything his body endured, he never stopped trying to make a positive impact on the lives around him in any way he could.

In early December of this year my father spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital with heart and breathing issues. This led to another operation to replace his old artery. In some ways, the procedure was successful. I got to speak to him in the days following, and although he was in pain, he remained in good spirits. About a day and a half later, I got a call telling me his condition had suddenly worsened. His heart had stopped, and doctors performed CPR before rushing him into emergency surgery, to provide him a temporary pump in order to assist his heart.

Over the next few days, I visited my dad and spoke with doctors about next steps. I was told the only option left was a major and very risky surgery. As the head of my father’s estate, I made the decision to attempt to save his life. Unfortunately, prior complications made the surgery more complicated than expected & eventually unsuccessful. He was placed on full heart and lung life support, and I was told he had little more than an hour before further complications arose.

I had to make the hardest calls of my life, telling family this would be the last chance to say goodbye. My aunts, uncles, sister, brother, mother, cousins, and grandfather gathered by his side. We reminisced, played his favorite songs, and made sure he knew we were there. Even though he wasn’t conscious, we knew he could hear us, and we filled his ears with love, memories, music, and gratitude, making sure he knew how deeply he was loved and appreciated.

Then came the impossible moment: letting him go. I held his hand tightly and promised I would take care of everything we talked about, that he didn’t have to worry anymore. Then the doctors turned off the machines, I held my sister and grandfather close, comforting them and myself until we finally gathered the strength to leave.

As the oldest sibling, I want to honor my father’s values, legacy, and character, especially when it comes to taking care of my family and my siblings: Janell, Jayden, Aniyah, and Ella. He loved his children beyond words, and I will continue to stand in that love and responsibility.

We are asking for support in giving him the funeral, memorial, and celebration of life he would’ve wanted. This loss was unexpected and has placed an enormous financial burden on our family. Any contribution, no matter the size, will help us give my father the respectful home going he deserves.

If you cannot donate, please consider sharing or keeping our family in your prayers. Thank you for helping us honor a man who meant so much to so many