Shawn Joseph's Memorial

At 30 years young, Shawn was the kind of person who could fill a room with laughter even on the cloudiest of days. A caring soul, he was known to playfully joke around, bringing out smiles from anyone who crossed his path. Whether it was a small joke to lighten a friend's mood or a ridiculous prank, Shawn had an innate talent for making people laugh.

Recently, our world was shattered. Shawn was tragically taken from us. On October 5th, Shawn was kidnapped and later discovered to have been murdered by someone he once considered a friend.

The weeks he was missing felt like an eternity. Every waking moment was spent in hope, searching, working alongside detectives, and praying for his safe return.

As we mourn his loss, we're faced with the immense weight of grief and the mounting financial pressures of organizing memorials in both Austin, where we currently reside, and New Orleans, Shawn's beloved hometown, and caring for his family. While we navigated the uncertainty of his whereabouts, planning for his memorial was a challenge as we grappled with the reality of saying our final goodbyes.

The emotional toll on our family has been profound. His mother has missed work, consumed by despair and the necessity of collaborating with law enforcement. His children, nieces, and nephews, with hearts too young to bear such pain, struggle each day to attend school, holding back tears and coping with this tragic loss.

In these darkest of times, we are reaching out to our community, friends, and well-wishers to help honor Shawn's memory the way he deserves. Funds raised will go directly to ensuring that Shawn's memorial is a fitting tribute to his radiant spirit and that his family is able to get the support they need to grieve during this challenging time.

We understand that times are tough for many, and any contribution, no matter how small, would be a ray of light in our family's time of darkness. We are committed to keeping donors updated on the memorial's progress and ensuring Shawn's legacy is celebrated and remembered.

Thank you for being a part of Shawn's story, for holding our family in your thoughts, and for helping us find a way to navigate through this unimaginable pain.

Your generosity and support mean more than words can express.