We was in Vallejo at dads old spot, tryna go somewhere. Dad was telling us to get in the car while Marcus was tryna roast on hi, they goin back in forth I’m crackin up. Marcus gon say “You so light skinned you look like a Orange Crayon!” I was in tears, we was crackin up for forever on that joke, still makes me laugh about how silly we could be. Didn’t even make sense but we still enjoyed the laugh. 

Me and Demarcus (I called him Cali) started off not seeing eye to eye  but eventually we both got over the head bump and started a friendship I never knew would impact my lifethis much. Him and his wife Tonara (my best friend) opened there doors to me and we all grew strong bond. Cali was just a overall a genuinely good person and I saw that he was capable of a lot and had a good head on his shoulders. We used to give each other advice and he helped me in so many ways and taught me a lot. And I’ll never forget the friendship we had and he is forever missed. 

It took me a while before I could build up the strength to write anything so I will try to keep it brief.  Da'Marcus and I met when we were 13 & 14 years old. We were kids, but our friendship and bond was very strong. On every letter and after every phone call we would always say "We ain't too much trippen" and that was our way of saying 'Us against the world'. Now, I'm not going to try to fit the contents of our complicated love story into words because truthfully, it would be impossible for anyone to truly understand the extent and magnitude of our history or relationship. But I can say that Da'Marcus had a good heart and loved the ones around him deeply and he definitely left an impact on those that came around him. The experiences we shared and memories we made are unmatched. When we were younger he used to say "We gone grow up together, get married and have kids" and when we found out that we were pregnant with our son he just kept repeating "didn't I tell you we was gone have kids Tay?, who called it?" Lol He was a good father and he loved his kids.

Even though we parted ways. When we would be on the phone we could still talk like best friends. Things weren't perfect (not by a long shot), but we played the cards that were dealt and were making plans for the future to get in more family time. The Lord saw fit to alter those plans and he has the ultimate say, so I won't be sad. Instead, I'll be happy that I had the opportunity to spend more than half of my life knowing and growing with him and his beautiful heart. I hurt for my son, because he won't be able grow along side his father and be able to ask him all his curious questions and have those father-son talks, but I will do my best to handle those delicate times with Da'Marcus in mind.

D, I didn't quite understand the fullness and richness of loving someone with my whole heart until you taught me. I will always remember how you made me feel. I hope that I left that same impression on you. I pray we meet again King.

I loved Da’Marcus from the moment I 1st laid eyes on him in October 2007 we were only 15 and he was supposed to spray paint the jumpsuits for my step team but he ended up breaking his finger and we didn’t cross paths again until August 2008 everything about him was fun he had this magnetic energy that couldn’t be denied I guess he was just as nervous around me and I was around him because he didn’t ask for my number for 2 months we hung out the next day and that night he asked me to be his girl lol then a month later he told me he loved me I remember I would say I love you he would say I love you more then I’d hit him with the well I loved you 1st so I win and every time we would argue about who loved who 1st and I would say just because you said it’s 1st doesn’t mean you felt it 1st

Behind the hard exterior he had so much love and passion inside of him he took care of everybody around him and went above and beyond to protect and provide for his family his light could brighten up the darkest pathway and the loss of this man left an emptiness in me that I have never felt before he wasn’t just a SUN he was a FATHER a FRIEND a BROTHER a PROTECTOR a BUSINESS MAN && an ARTIST in every aspect from music to drawing to poetry

I birthed our daughter November 8, 2010 he sacrificed a lot be there for her birth he was with me when I went into labor and he suggested we walk around the block to make the contractions a little more comfortable he was in the room when I pushed her out and he adored her the moment her head popped into the world he would walk to the ends of the earth around in a full circle and back if she asked him too their bond was everything any little girl could ask for and the loss of him has left a void in her heart I know I will never be able to fill but I will never let her forget who he was to her or how much he loved her 


Me && Da’Marcus have 12 years of memories I will cherish FOREVER we were really just kids going through lifes motions together I watched him grow from a boy into a man his glow up was so real I remember seeing him walking the opposite direction of class after the bell would ring and I would make it my mission to be his personal escort to class I remember his Art teacher being extra nice to him after she found out I was his girlfriend I remember when things were really good between us we would never leave the house without a kiss and saying I love you I remember him calling me a million times a day on the phone just to say I love you and hear each other breathe I remember him thanking me for just being there for him and never turning my back on him I remember him promising me that no matter what happens between us he would always be there for me and would never leave me behind I remember him crying to me because he carried the weight of everything and everyone on his shoulders and I told him no matter what you got me if you need it and I have it it’s yours and vis versa just us against the world and that was a promise we made to each other and we both held up our ends of that promise everyday 


I remember when he would do our daughters hair and he was always so proud of his work and quite frankly he was really good at it I remember him helping me fix and take down my braids and sew in weaves and then he would wash and blow dry my hair once I even let him flat iron my hair and I was surprised at how bomb it turned out he was really a jack of all trades I could really go on and on but this post will end up as a book lol he touched so many lives it’s insane && he left an imprint on everyone he crossed paths with and his memory will live on forever LONG LIVE THE KING !

4ever♾ 4always♾ 4love♥️

My name is Tonara Marie Payton and Da’Marcus was my soulmate. I knew he was special the moment I met him and ever since we developed a bond that is unbreakable. He and I have been together for 3 years and recently we purchased a new home together. Just this past year on Oct 31, 2019 we got engaged to be married, were planning our wedding and had plans on expanding our family within the next year. He took on the complete role of father to my 2 little girls while having 2 beautiful children of his own. The hardest part about this is they absolutely adore their Daddy and ask about him every single day.He was everything a woman could ask for, he was a loving father with a big heart, sensitive, romantic, and extremely hardworking. He was a handyman and had many talents from his music, to his creativity, very intellectual and always looking to expand his mind. He was everything to me… He owned his own company called DAP Plumbing and was extremely passionate about any and everything he put his mind to. He loved and cared deeply about his family and friends and would protect them at any cost.Da’Marcus was a leader and not afraid to take initiative no matter the situation. He was the life of the party and lit up every room he entered with his smile and big personality. Da’Marcus was one of a kind and his passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him. Even though he is not here physically he is still with me every day. Until we meet again, I love you Da’Marcus.

Da’Marcus was a very passionate and family oriented person. As his aunt, I always looked at him as my little brother. I often babysat him and it was never a dull moment lol. He was humorous, handsome and HUNGRY! Literally and figuratively lol. He loved to eat! I swear he used to eat like he was pregnant lol. Da’Marcus used to make some of the weirdest concoctions: Burritos with Ramen and even cornbread with honey!  That man could eat lol! But his appetite matched his drive to do things on his terms. Even when the odds were against him, he pushed through it all.   He always made a way for himself, always was goal driven and super ambitious and he went after what he wanted and made a name for himself. I remember when he worked at the El Cerrito movie theater; I believe as one of the cooks. He had a whole meal named after him there because although he had some unusual food pairings, he made really good ones too! They loved him there! 


As we got older, I remember a time when Da’Marcus used to stay with me and we used to do things for our daughters together because not only were they close in age but they share the same birthday and so we would always take them out to the park or watch each others children and they always had such a good time. We even planned a party on their birthdays at the skating rink. It was so fun! We all were skating and busting our asses out there and just remember seeing the rest of my nephews and my brothers having a good ole time like they were still kids lol. I wish I had video footage of that night but it was memorable. 


Not only was he a go-getter, Da’Marcus was a good father. I recall one time he was at my spot with me and he asked me to do his daughter’s hair. I told him I would but I didn’t feel well and fell asleep. So, Marcus took matters into his own hands….for the first time ever, he did Akaylah’s hair on his own and it looked damn good too! LOL, he woke me up and was like, “BRUH! LOOK AT MY BABY HAIR!!! I DID THAT! HA!” .  He was so proud of himself and so was I lol.
This hurts so bad. I miss you so much Da'Marcus. I Love you always.