Support Jaden's Family After Tragic Loss

My name is Stephanie Williams, and I am coming to you brokenhearted. On Saturday, August 30, 2025, my 26-year-old son, Jaden, was taken from us in the most tragic way — a gunshot wound to the head at the Linecrest Food Mart in Ellenwood, GA.

This day already carried pain for me, as it was the anniversary of losing my mother in 2004. But nothing could prepare me for the call I didn’t receive until two hours later, due to a Verizon service outage that left me unable to make or receive calls or texts. By the time I learned what had happened, it was too late. My life, and my family’s lives, have been shattered ever since.

Jaden was truly one of a kind — a gentle giant with a humble, giving spirit. He loved God, his family, his music, and he lived to bring people together. More than anything, he took pride in being a father. His 4-year-old daughter was his whole world, and she still asks me, “When is my daddy coming home, Grandma?” — words that cut my soul because I have no way to make her understand. He also leaves behind his fiancée of 11 years, the mother of his little girl, who now faces the unimaginable task of carrying on without him.

In the midst of our grief, we learned that Jaden had registered as an organ donor. On Sunday, September 7, he will undergo surgery to give the Gift of Life to at least 8 people. Knowing he cared so deeply about others, even in death, gives me a small measure of peace. My son will live on through the lives he saves.

I am creating this fundraiser to support his daughter and fiancée as they face the heavy burden of rent, food, bills, and daily living expenses during this devastating time. Any amount you are able to give will make a difference.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your prayers, donations, and shares. May God bless you for keeping Jaden’s memory alive and for standing with us in this moment of heartbreak.