Major was Danny and Rhonda’s youngest and only son among three older daughters: Shawna, DaShawna, and Danyelle, all of whom loved their “Little Bear” and made sure his tiny feet never touched the ground. As a young child Major's dad Danny said he always loved the name Major and vowed when he had a son that was going to be his name, because it was a name for a MAN not a boy. Danny would always remind Major how he had the baddest name around and that it also had great meaning Major: strength, significant, bigger, and greater. Rhonda and Danny would often tell the story of when they went to get the ultrasound and the nurse said the gender was a boy, they were so excited that when they left the doctor's office and entered the elevator, they both looked at each other and screamed "It's a Boy". From birth, Major attended Maranatha Christian Center Church with his family under the leadership of founder Dr. Anthony Williams (a.k.a. Pastor Tony), who also dedicated Major when he was six months old to his Godparents, Michael and Gloria Johnson, Tonya Robinson, and Alma Taylor (deceased).

           As Major grew, he loved going to the youth center at church and playing with his friends. In kindergarten, Major attended Bethel Church School in San Jose, then transferred to Valley Christian School until his family relocated to Mountain House, California. Major attended Sabastian Questa Grade School and Mountain House High School until his untimely passing from an accidental Fentanyl overdose as a high school senior.

                    Major loved playing football, basketball, video games, and he especially loved writing and making his own music. He recorded and put together many beats, and one in particular that he loved titled “Arch Angel.” Major loved his small group of friends. He was known as the friend who always encouraged people whenever they would feel down. One of Major's friends commented “Major, I hope you find the same peace that you helped me find.” Another friend shared how he’d been going through so much, and Major encouraged him with these words “Your setback is going to bring you a Major Comeback!”

                    Many of his teachers loved Major. One teacher said that she wished she could clone Major because he was always so respectful and kind in class. Major was the person who’d be first to jump in when a kid was being bullied; he was that friend everyone enjoyed and appreciated being around. Major loved and cherished his family. One special Great Aunt whom he felt close to was Auntie Joyce, who was diagnosed with cancer and came from Oklahoma to California to stay with us while undergoing surgery and radiation treatments. Auntie Joyce and Major would stay up many nights laughing and talking. She passed in July 2021; Major’s teacher gave me a short essay that he wrote in class. This was what my son wrote, in his own words: “I remember my Auntie Joyce. We used to spend so much time together and had so many conversations about everything. The most important thing she taught me was how to be open minded and don’t judge people. One other thing she taught me is how to find God for myself, and that I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life because of that.” This touched my heart because what 17-year-old would write about the life lessons his 70-year-old Aunt taught him?! This truly speaks to what kind of spirited soul Major was.

                 Major made a bad decision on October 3, 2023, but that one bad choice taking a Percocet pill) not knowing it was laced with a deadly dose of fentanyl did not make him a bad person. "One Pill Can Kill". Major’s life mattered. ALL lives matter. But this isn’t the end of Major’s story. His legacy is motivation to protect all children and young adults from the dangers of Fentanyl. Let’s fight Fentanyl, together — in A Major Way!

MAJOR'S STORY