ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WBTW) – Family members came together Thursday to celebrate the life of a man who lost his battle with cancer.
Javonte Townsend, 22, battled acute leukemia for more than a year, and was supposed to receive his dying wish on Thursday.
“It was a shock to the family,” said Townsend’s mother Latasha McCormick. “You never expect a child that young would have to go through something as tragic as that, but he fought a long fight, and he was always smiling. He didn’t complain much.”
McCormick said her son loved to ride motorcycles, and a motorcycle group offered to give Townsend one last ride on Thursday. She said he got a sneak peek at the motorcycles the week before.
“He was excited that whole day,” she said. “He was excited to see them come, and support him. They had him on his oxygen tank, and when he came out he seen all the bikes, I said ‘Vonte look at all the bikes’ and he was just so excited. He said ‘Momma I didn’t know they was going to support me like that, he was very excited”
Townsend leaves behind three children all under the age of three.
The children’s mother, Dashakia Smith said Townsend’s children kept him going through the hard times.
“He was a great father,” Smith said. “Even being hospitalized, it didn’t stop him from being a great dad.”
His mother said Townsend’s children always made him smile when he was in the hospital.
“He was always in a nice mood, always smiling, and he loved his babies,” she said. “He wanted to see his kids as much as possible. They were the light of his life, and that’s what kept him fighting as long as he did.”
Community members held a fundraiser in Pembroke, and collected more than $400 for the family.
“We just ask that any way possible that people can come out, and support, they can reach out to family,” said McCormick. “At that age you wouldn’t expect you need life insurance or prepare for your death at a young time like that so, he fought a good fight. At least we can say ‘Okay ‘Vonte you can lay down in peace.”
McCormick said people can donate to Colvin Funeral Home in Lumberton.